New adaptation of 'Boys from the Blackstuff' gets set to premiere at Liverpool's Royal Court as rehearsal pictures are released

A new adaptation of Boys from the Blackstuff by James Graham, writer of the hit BBC series Sherwood, is coming to Liverpool’s Royal Court this month.

Arriving 40 years after Alan Bleasdale’s ground-breaking Boys from the Blackstuff television series offered a bleak but fiercely funny exploration of recession hit Liverpool, The new work will premiere on September 15.

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.

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.

Casting has been announced and will comprise Andrew Schofield (Blood Brothers, Scully) as George, Barry Sloane (Pleasureland – C4, Jerusalem – Royal Court), as Yosser, Mark Womack, (Emmerdale – ITV, Good Cop – BBC) as Dixie, George Caple (Doctor Who– BBC, Homebaked – Liverpool’s Royal Court) as Snowie, Kevin and other parts, Dominic Carter (Coronation Street – ITV, Game of Thrones – HBO) various , Helen Carter (The Flint Street Nativity – Liverpool Everyman, Top Girls – Royal Court) as Miss Sutcliffe and other roles, Aron Julius (DCI Banks ITV, As You Like It – Soho Place) as Loggo, Oliver Mawdsley (The Comedy of Errors – more or less – Stephen Joseph) various, Nathan McMullen (Misfits – E4) as Chrissie and Lauren O’Neil, (This House – National Theatre, The Twilight Zone – Almeida) as Angie and other roles.

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.”