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Boys from the Blackstuff

Alan Bleasdale’s Boys from the Blackstuff by James Graham
a Liverpool’s Royal Court production by arrangement with Bill Kenwright Limited

A rectangle, three quarters black and one quarter yellow, and on the vertical line where these meet, an image of the Liverpool docks skyline, including the Liver Building, is rotated 90 degrees clockwise, against which, the face of a man is looking into the black area of the rectangle.

Booking and details

22 May — 8 June 2024
This show has now ended
The event location is

Olivier Theatre

National Theatre
South Bank
London SE1 9PX

‘Gizza job. Go on, gizzit.’

80s Liverpool. Life is tough as Chrissie, Loggo, George, Dixie and Yosser play the game. But there is no work and no money. What are they supposed to do?

Find jobs, avoid the ‘sniffers’, work harder, work longer, buy cheaper, spend less? All whilst having a laugh along the way.

Following its ★★★★★ (Daily Mail) run at Liverpool’s Royal Court, James Graham’s (Dear England) powerful new adaptation comes to the South Bank, 40 years after Alan Bleasdale’s ground-breaking television series. Directed by Kate Wasserberg (Artistic Director, Theatr Clwyd) in her National Theatre debut.

Performed 22 May — 8 June 2024 in the Olivier Theatre.

A Stockroom commission

★★★★★

‘Brutally funny’

Daily Mail

★★★★

‘A blast from the past which still echoes today’

Evening Standard

★★★★

‘Punchy and humane’

Financial Times 

6 Reviews

Suitability

Please note: This production contains flashing lights. It includes strong language and a gunshot. There are depictions of violence, grief and death.

Supporters

This production is supported by Marcia B Whitaker and The Hintze Family Charitable Foundation.

Gallery

Two men sit at a table and look at one another. One man is wearing a black jumper and gesturing towards the other man who is wearing a brown jacket.
Two men sit at a table and look at one another. One man is wearing a black jumper and gesturing towards the other man who is wearing a brown jacket.
Two men sit at a table and look at one another. One man is wearing a black jumper and gesturing towards the other man who is wearing a brown jacket.
View 9 images
Two men with their arms around each other. One is wearing a green jacket and one is wearing a grey jacket. A man stands while screaming and clenching his fists. A man and a woman sit at a table. The woman is wearing a blue dress and pointing a pen at the man. The man is looking at her and wearing a navy jacket. Two men look at one another. One is wearing black glasses and a grey jacket and one is wearing a navy jacket. A man and a woman sit on a brown and black patterned sofa. The woman is wearing a yellow jumper and the man is wearing a grey jumper. A man in a brown jacket and black beanie is standing with a man wearing a green jacket standing behind him. Eight people stand on stage. Three are on an elevated platform and five are on a lower platform. A man kneels and screams in front of another man who is shaking his hand. Two other men in the background look at them.

Production images

Four men stand in a line and stare off to the left.
Four men stand in a line and stare off to the left.
Four men stand in a line and stare off to the left.
View 8 images
A man sits on a wooden box with his hands on his knees. Another man sits next to him in an orange chair and holds a cane. A woman kneels with an old fashioned phone in her hand. Three men stand around her. Two men and a woman sit around a table with an old fashioned phone on it and talk to one another. A woman stands and looks off to the left. She is wearing a black hoodie. A woman stands and wears a black hoodie. A man speaks to her in a black hoodie. A man sits on a wooden box and wears a denim shirt. A man walks with a cane and wears a green beanie and denim shirt. A woman stands on his left and touches his arm while speaking to him.

Rehearsal images

Video

Three men stand on stage. Two of them are wearing black blazers and one is wearing a white shirt.
Play Video

Watch the trailer

Cast

George Caple
George Caple photo portrait

George Caple

Snowy / Kevin / Scotty

Dominic Carter
Dominic Carter photo portrait

Dominic Carter

Molloy / Marley / Landlord / Catholic Priest / Policeman / Gas Man / Clerk / Paper Boy

Helen Carter
Helen Carter photo portrait

Helen Carter

Miss Sutcliffe / Freda / Margaret

Aron Julius
Aron Julius photo portrait

Aron Julius

Loggo

Production team

Writer

Alan Bleasdale

Alan Bleasdale

Playwright

James Graham

James Graham

Director

Kate Wasserberg

Kate Wasserberg

Associate Director

Lauren Dickson

Lauren Dickson

Set and Costume Designer

Amy Jane Cook

Amy Jane Cook

Lighting Designer

Ian Scott

Ian Scott

Movement Director

Rachael Nanyonjo

Rachael Nanyonjo

Associate Movement Director

Jocelyn Prah

Jocelyn Prah

Composer and Sound Designer

Dyfan Jones

Dyfan Jones

Audio Visual Designer

Jamie Jenkin

Jamie Jenkin

Fight Director

Rachel Bown-Williams of Rc-Annie Ltd

Rachel Bown-Williams of Rc-Annie Ltd

What’s on guide

What's on guide

Download a pdf of the latest guide (2MB)

Download a pdf of the latest guide in Alternative format (1.4MB)

 

 

 

Photography (Barry Slone) by AB Photography