Boys from the Blackstuff – National Theatre

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Last Updated on May 31, 2024

A Powerful Blast from the Past

James Graham’s unflinching adaptation of Alan Bleasdale’s groundbreaking 1982 BBC2 series, Boys from the Blackstuff, which first premiered at Liverpool’s Royal Court, opens on the Olivier stage at the National Theatre en route to the West End. A real blast from the past for me, as this powerful drama was a regular watch in my household and a poignant slice of my early youth, (showing my age here!) bringing home a stark societal and political understanding of working-class life in the North during Thatcher-era Britain.

Translating and honouring this iconic ’80s series into a stage play is a tough challenge, but the brilliant James Graham, collaborating closely with Alan Bleasdale, has done a remarkable job, although it is not without flaws. It is a little slow at times, but it doesn’t shy away from realism, portraying a bleak social critique of its time underpinned by powerful themes of male pride and mental health. The difference in Graham’s adaptation is that he weaves together the stories of five unemployed Liverpudlian road workers. In contrast, Bleasdale’s original TV series focused on the lives of individual characters in weekly episodes.

This period piece, boldly directed by Kate Wasserberg, for many, is likely to be their first introduction to the lives of Chrissie, Loggo, George, Dixie, and Yosser –  five men who have lost their jobs laying tarmac, set adrift and experiencing the economic hardship. Interestingly, James Graham, who was from Nottingham, was born in 1982, the very same year the original series aired.

Amy Jane Cook’s set for Boys from the Blackstuff creates a brutal industrial landscape with giant rust-coloured girders, cranes and corrugated iron panels, enhanced by Ian Scott’s clever lighting design and Jamie Jenkin’s projections that inject relevant themes.

Opening on the dole office, where we meet Chrissie (perfectly captured by Nathan McMullen), a genuinely nice guy who owns a pet goose, and when times get tough, faces accusations from his fraught wife Angie (believably played by Lauren O’Neil) of being too nice. The angry and broken Yosser, so poignantly portrayed in the TV series by the late Bernard Hill, whose tag line was “Gizza job. I could do that.” is enduring the ritual humiliation of these dole office visits along with others, has also lost his wife and children. Barry Sloane portrays Yosser’s increasingly aggressive and unhinged nature with striking authenticity.

Then there’s the likeable Loggo (Aron Julius), Mark Womack’s suitably gruff Dixie, and Philip Whitchurch gives a stellar performance as the ex-docker George, the father of the group and a figurehead of working-class pride, whose son tragically dies running from the snooping DHSS on a building site. These, along with the supporting cast, including Moss (Jamie Peacock), as the ambitious young DHSS officer and Helen Carter as the fearsome Miss Sutcliffe are exceptionally strong, each effortlessly taking on multiple roles, which are delivered with unwavering conviction.

While these well-rounded characters battle against unemployment and despair, it’s not all doom and gloom. Graham’s sharply written script injects enough humour to lighten the load, capturing moments of joy and camaraderie. George’s funeral scene is especially affecting, intertwining the solemn rituals of a Catholic mass with the monotonous drudgery of the dole office. This powerful juxtaposition encapsulates the play’s exploration of struggle and resilience, leaving a lasting impression.

Graham and Bleasdale ultimately make a great team, and together they have created a brooding and at times deeply touching exploration of the underdog, male pride, and human dignity.

Boys from the Blackstuff is showing at The National Theatre to 8 June, then at the Garrick Theatre 13 June – 3 Aug

National Theatre, Olivier Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX

National Theatre tickets – https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/boys-from-the-blackstuff/