The History Boys is to return to the West End for the first time in two decades, with a warning from its director of an “almost terminal decline” in humanities teaching in state schools.

Nicholas Hytner, who directed Alan Bennett’s play at the National Theatre and its 2006 film adaptation , said the themes of education, history and the value of literature for its own sake felt especially relevant amid renewed debate about what schools should teach.

“There has been a decline of humanities subjects in state schools, an almost terminal decline of music and drama teaching, history and modern languages have been downgraded,” he said. “But it has obviously been a mistake, both for the individual pupil and our economic future, to neglect the humanities.”

The production will open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 10 April for a 16-week run, reuniting Hytner with its original designer, Bob Crowley.…