James Graham’s theatrical adaptation of Alan Bleasdale’s TV drama Boys From the Blackstuff will play London's West End later this year.
Directed by Kate Wasserberg, the production will enjoy a limited eight-week engagement at the Garrick Theatre June 13–August 3, following runs at Liverpool’s Royal Court and the National’s Olivier Theatre.
Set in 1980's Liverpool during the tenure of Margaret Thatcher, Boys From the Blackstuff centers on five friends who struggle and scrape to get them and their families by.
The West End cast will include George Caple (Doctor Who) as Snowy/Kevin/Scotty, Dominic Carter (Coronation Street) as Molloy/Marley/Landlord/Catholic Priest/Policeman, Helen Carter (The Flint Street Nativity) as Miss Sutcliffe/Freda/Margaret, Aron Julius (Death on the Nile) as Loggo, Nathan McMullen (Misfits) as Chrissie, Lauren O’Neil (Witness for the Prosecution) as Angie/Jean/Lawton/Student/Lollipop Lady, Jamie Peacock (Masquerade) as Moss/Anglican Reverend, Barry Sloane (Jerusalem) as Yosser, Liam Tobin (Then and Now) as an ensemble member, and Mark Womack (The Responder) as Dixie.
Said Graham in a statement, "To work with Alan Bleasdale in the room has been the biggest treat of my life. He’s one of the reasons I became a writer. I think Boys From the Blackstuff is more resonant today than it’s ever been before. We’re living through a time right now, with the cost-of-living crisis, where those fears and that anger towards the lack of hope, the lack of a plan to get us out of this crisis, makes an audience respond and react. And because of how iconic these characters are, and because of all those famous lines that a lot of people still remember, it feels really alive in the theatre. It’s actually really funny: Alan Bleasdale is an hilarious writer, and Liverpool has this dark sense of humor that cuts through all the tragedy and all the bleakness."
In addition to Wasserberg's direction, the production will feature set and costume design by Amy Jane Cook, lighting design by Ian Scott, movement direction by Rachael Nanyonjo, original music composed and sound design by Dyfan Jones, associate sound design by Kate Harvey, audio visual design by Jamie Jenkin, fight direction by Rachel Bown-Williams of RC-Annie Ltd, and associate movement direction by Jocelyn Prah. The staff director will be Lauren Dickson.
Boys From the Blackstuff will play Liverpool’s Royal Court April 19–May 11 and the Olivier Theatre May 22–June 8.
The Liverpool’s Royal Court and National Theatre production will be presented in the West End by Bill Kenwright Limited.
Visit BoysFromtheBlackstuff.com.
