James Graham’s adaptation of Boys From The Blackstuff will transfer to London’s West End this June following its limited run at the National Theatre.
As previously announced Boys From The Blackstuff will play a limited 2-week engagement at the National Theatre from 22 May to 8 June 2024, and will then transfer to the Garrick Theatre in the heart of London’s West End where it will run from 13 June to 3 August 2024.
Based on Alan Bleasdale’s ground-breaking TV series, the play is set in 1980’s Liverpool and follows five men trying to make ends meet while job opportunities are scarce.
The show has been adapted for the stage – with Alan Bleasdale’s support – by James Graham (Sherwood, Dear England, Best of Enemies, This House) and is directed by Kate Wasserberg.
James Graham said of adapting Bleasdale’s drama, “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 humour that cuts through all the tragedy and all the bleakness.”
The cast will include George Caple (Doctor Who) as Snowy/Kevin/Scotty; Dominic Carter (Coronation Street, Game of Thrones) as Molloy/Marley/Landlord/Catholic Priest/Policeman; Helen Carter as Miss Sutcliffe/Freda/Margaret; Aron Julius (Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile) as Loggo; Nathan McMullen (Misfits, E4) as Chrissie; Lauren O’Neil (This House, National Theatre) as Angie/Jean/Lawton/Student/Lollipop Lady; Jamie Peacock (Masquerade, Epstein Theatre) as Moss/Anglican Reverend; Barry Sloane (The Bay, ITV; Revenge) as Yosser; Liam Tobin (Then and Now) ensemble and Mark Womack (Responder; Emmerdale) as Dixie.
Prior to its run at the National Theatre the show will return to the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool for three-weeks where it premiered to critical acclaim last year. Read a round-up of reviews from the Liverpool production of Boys From The Blackstuff.
Boys From The Blackstuff tickets at the Garrick Theatre on sale Tuesday 26 March 2024, 12 noon.
Boys From The Blackstuff runs from 13 June to 3 August 2024 at The Garrick Theatre London.
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