Boys From The Blackstuff

With no money and no work, what are you meant to do?

Playwright James Graham (Dear England) and director Kate Wasserberg present a powerful adaptation of Alan Bleasdale's seminal 80's TV series Boys From The Blackstuff, now transferring to the Garrick Theatre after a run at the National Theatre. A gritty, funny, and arresting story, it focuses on the lives of a group of unemployed men in Liverpool in the 80s.

What is the story of Boys From The Blackstuff?

Chrissie, Loggo, George, Dixie and Yosser are playing the game of life in Liverpool during the 80's. With no money between them, and no road-laying jobs available, the gang has to find a way to get by. Described as a sensitive study of male mental health' (The Guardian), Boys In The Blackstuff is a rough yet hilarious journey of five friends struggling to make ends meet.

Based on the British television drama series of the same name, Boys from the Blackstuff aired in 1982 and ran for 5 episodes. Each episode followed one specific character within the group, highlighting their personal struggles of being unemployed during the early 80's economic recession. The show garnered critical acclaim for its compelling story, and more importantly its portrayal of economic and social issues facing working-class men in Britain.