In 2005, Alan Bennett’s The History Boys, which premiered at the Lyttleton Theatre to sell-out audiences, was named Best New Play at the prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards. Sitting on the judging panel that year was the usual mix of industry experts and members of the public, one of which was education consultant John Chapman.

Now, four years on, John, who lives in Buckhurst Hill, is set to star as antiquated teacher Hector (played by Richard Griffiths in the original National Theatre performance and later film version) in the Redbridge Stage Company’s (RSC) amateur production of the wildly successful comedy, which opens at the Kenneth More Theatre tonight.

Speaking about his first reaction to the play, which is set in a boys’ grammar school in the early 80s, John says: “I could feel an identification with some aspects of the play incredibly well. The first thing for me was I was a teacher for 30 years so there was definitely a link there and, like Hector, I taught English. Another similarity was for some of my life I was also in charge of running a sixth form.”

He continues: “Of course the play was also incredibly well written and I can understand why it went round the world. It’s no shame to mention I certainly went for it as my favourite play of the year when I was on the Olivier judging panel, which was another reason for wanting to do the production, it brought the whole thing full circle.”

Founded in 1975, the RSC has become known for “doing things that stretch us”, and The History Boys is no exception.

“On a practical level finding eight youngsters who could play the boys was a real challenge,” John, who joined the company in 1983, explains. “We had to go scouting for talent outside of the company, but thankfully we really fell on our feet and found some exceptionally good local actors.”

John, whose wife Jackie is stage manager for the show, adds: “Another challenge is doing something so out of the ordinary for amateur theatre. A lot of people know the play and the film version so we are going up against their preconceptions of what they have seen, but then the advantage is that most people have already heard of it, which is great for getting people through the door.”

Set in Cutlers’ Grammar School, in Sheffield, The History Boys follows an unruly bunch of bright pupils as they prepare for their Oxbridge entrance examinations and take their first tentative steps from boys to men.

Guiding them on their journey are two teachers of conflicting styles, on the one hand there is Hector who comes from the old breed of teachers, believing in providing the boys with a rounded education for life, and on the other there is Irwin, a shrewd young supply teacher who has been brought in by the results-obsessed headmaster to get the boys through their exams at whatever cost necessary.

Those who know the production will know Hector and his motorbike serve as an important side plot to the main action, which itself caused its own problem.

“I have never ridden a motorbike in my life, and I don’t intend to,” John jokes. “But we are investigating including film footage of Hector on his bike like they did in the original.”

Under the direction of Chris Keates, it appears the RSC has once again risen to the challenge, covering every detail with due care and attention, even down to the accessories.

“We brought new ties and made the boys wear them through rehearsals, so they are nice and battered for the production,” John reveals. “Nobody’s tie was ever pristine by the end of term.”

The History Boys runs at the Kenneth More Theatre, Ilford, Essex, from Thursday, June 11, until Saturday, June 13, 7.45pm. Saturday matinee, 3pm. Tickets: 020 8553 4466, www.kenneth-more-theatre.co.uk (£6-£8)