Forty Years On
Alan Bennett
Set in a crumbling boys' public school, the play uses the occasion of the headmaster's retirement to stage a school play that parodies British history and literature from the late Victorian era to the 1940s. The play-within-a-play structure allows for a satirical but affectionate look at the values of a vanishing England. It is a witty, nostalgic, and often sharp-edged revue that balances high-brow literary pastiche with schoolboy humor, exploring the themes of national identity and the end of an era.
The Headmaster: An old-fashioned, slightly bewildered traditionalist whose retirement ceremony serves as the framing device for a satirical and nostalgic review of British history. Franklin: A younger, more progressive master who directs the school play, representing a newer, more questioning generation that looks back at the past with irony. Tempest: A senior boy and leader of the school’s theatrical troupe, who performs various roles in the revue, embodying the youthful spirit of the institution's future.
First Performance: 1968, at Apollo Theatre, London
Bennett’s debut play; a critical sensation that established his reputation for wit and nostalgic satire.
Original Actors: John Gielgud, Alan Bennett, Paul Eddington