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
Booking and details
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
★★★★
‘Tremendously powerful’
Time Out
★★★★
‘The power of Boys from the Blackstuff is captured’
Broadway World
★★★★★
‘Astounding’
Reviews Hub
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
Production images
Rehearsal images
Cast
George Caple
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Dominic Carter
Molloy / Marley / Landlord / Catholic Priest / Policeman / Gas Man / Clerk / Paper Boy
Dominic Carter
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Helen Carter
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Aron Julius
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Elliott Kingsley
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Garrick)
Nathan McMullen
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Lauren O’Neil
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick), This House, Travelling Light and Women Beware Women
Victoria Oxley
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Garrick)
Jamie Peacock
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Liam Powell-Berry
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Hayley Sheen
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Barry Sloane
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Liam Tobin
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Philip Whitchurch
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick), Till the Stars Come Down, Summerfolk and Women of Troy
Mark Womack
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Production team
Writer
Alan Bleasdale
Alan Bleasdale
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Playwright
James Graham
James Graham
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick), Dear England and This House (both also West End)
Director
Kate Wasserberg
Kate Wasserberg
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Associate Director
Lauren Dickson
Lauren Dickson
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Set and Costume Designer
Amy Jane Cook
Amy Jane Cook
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick) and Jellyfish (also the Bush)
Lighting Designer
Ian Scott
Ian Scott
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick), Oh! What a Lovely War and Frogs
Movement Director
Rachael Nanyonjo
Rachael Nanyonjo
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick), Trouble in Mind (as choreographer and movement director) and An Alternative Musical (as director)
Associate Movement Director
Jocelyn Prah
Jocelyn Prah
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Composer and Sound Designer
Dyfan Jones
Dyfan Jones
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Audio Visual Designer
Jamie Jenkin
Jamie Jenkin
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick)
Fight Director
Rachel Bown-Williams of Rc-Annie Ltd
Rachel Bown-Williams of Rc-Annie Ltd
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick), The Father and the Assassin, The Welkin, Three Sisters, ANNA, When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other, Peter Pan, The Threepenny Opera, The James Plays (co-production with National Theatre of Scotland and Edinburgh International Festival) and Cleansed
What’s on guide
What's on guide
Download a pdf of the latest guide (2MB)
Download a large print pdf version of the latest guide (4MB), with most images removed.
Photography (Barry Slone) by AB Photography