Boys From The Blackstuff retold in new stage adaptation at Liverpool's Royal Court

Boys from the Black From The Blackstuff is back and this time on stage at Liverpool’s Royal Court theatre.

40 years after Alan Bleasdale’s ground-breaking television series was essential viewing, Stockroom and Liverpool’s Royal Court are delighted to present an unmissable, powerful new adaptation by James Graham, writer of the hit BBC series Sherwood.

This is 80s 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.

Alan Bleasdale and James Graham at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

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.

Opening in September 2023, Alan Bleasdale’s Boys From The Blackstuff will be directed by Stockroom Artistic Director, Kate Wasserberg, with further creatives to be announced

Alan Bleasdale, says:

“Almost all of my stage plays are set in one location and using real time. The one attempt I made to use multiple characters and multiple sets and the passage of time was a disaster. So, when the idea of the stage version of the series was suggested with James Graham as the writer I just thought: I don’t know how to do it. But James does.

“ While I’m pleased that the work is still well regarded, the biggest sadness for me is that in the forty years since I wrote The Boys from the Blackstuff we might have hoped that things would get better. But they haven’t. Have they?”

James Graham says:

“Alan Bleasdale is one of the reasons I became a writer. Watching his work as I was growing up, hearing those voices and seeing those worlds, meant a lot to someone from my background. I could never have dared dream that years later I would be working with him, and on his most famous, heartbreaking, hilarious masterpiece. But Alan is the most generous and supportive of collaborators and it’s been one of the honours of my writing life thus far to work on this show.”

Kevin Fearon, Executive Producer, Liverpool’s Royal Court says

“For a producing theatre in Liverpool it doesn’t get any bigger or better than this. To be able to bring together two of the country’s finest writers on such an important piece of drama is a hugely exciting opportunity for Liverpool’s Royal Court. Everyone in the building is excited about this incredible show and our job now is to make it something we can all be proud of.”