James Graham's adaptation of Alan Bleasdale's BOYS FROM THE BLACKSTUFF to transfer to the West End

James Graham’s powerful new adaptation of Alan Bleasdale’s seminal TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff will transfer to the West End for a strictly limited eight-week season at the Garrick Theatre from 13 June, following runs at Liverpool’s Royal Court and the National’s Olivier Theatre.

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."

1980s Liverpool. Chrissie, Loggo, George, Dixie and Yosser are used to hard work and providing for their families. But there is no work and there is no money. What are they supposed to do? Work harder, work longer, buy cheaper, spend less? They just need a chance. Life is tough but the lads can play the game. Find the jobs, avoid the ‘sniffers' and see if you can have a laugh along the way.

The cast includes George Caple (Doctor Who, BBC) as Snowy/Kevin/Scotty, Dominic Carter (Game of Thrones, HBO) as Molloy/Marley/Landlord/Catholic Priest/Policeman, Helen Carter (Top Girls, Royal Court) as Miss Sutcliffe/Freda/Margaret, Aron Julius (Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile) as Loggo, Nathan McMullen (Wagatha Christie: Rooney v Vardy, West End) as Chrissie, Lauren O’Neil (Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall) as Angie/Jean/Lawton/Student/Lollipop Lady, Jamie Peacock (Masquerade, Epstein Theatre) as Moss/Anglican Reverend, Barry Sloane (Jerusalem, West End/Broadway) as Yosser, Liam Tobin (Then and Now) as ensemble, and Mark Womack (The Responder, BBC) as Dixie.

Boys from the Blackstuff is directed by Kate Wasserberg, with set and costume design by Amy Jane Cook, lighting by Ian Scott, movement direction by Rachael Nanyonjo, original music composed and sound by Dyfan Jones, and audio visual design by Jamie Jenkin.

Boys from the Blackstuff will be staged at Liverpool’s Royal Court from 19 April to 11 May and the Olivier Theatre from 22 May to 8 June.

Tickets on sale from 12 noon on 28 March. For more information, please click here.