BOYS FROM THE BLACKSTUFF - The Lowry, Salford (24/04/25)

1980s Alan Bleasedale TV drama gets a brilliant theatrical facelift

Margaret Thatcher was a hugely polarising figure in British politics, seen as either a great, strong leader with heaps of gumption, or a tyrannical enemy of the working class; this James Graham adaptation of the critically acclaimed 1982 Alan Bleasedale TV series certainly adopts the latter stance, as it centres around the very people whom suffered the greatest hardship at her government's hands, and how they traverse a diminishing pool of employment in the north of England.

Set in 1980s Liverpool at the height of Thatcher's decimation of the British job market, Boys From The Blackstuff tells the story of five Liverpudlian tarmac layers, all accustomed to working hard to support their families, yet finding themselves scrambling for income amid diminishing employment opportunities; and when you are desperate for income, you will do whatever it takes, no matter how legally questionable.

Jurell Carter, Reiss Barber and Ged McKenna (credit: Alastair Muir)

Directed by Kate Wasserberg in her theatrical directorial debut, this production makes the material hugely palatable for the uninitiated, as unlike other similar properties, prior knowledge of the original content on which it's based is not a strict prerequisite to comprehending and following this play; this is both down to the quality of the writing and how cohesively the creative elements all work together, especially Amy Jane Cook's impressive set design, which incorporates elements of the industrial and the domestic, giving us something cold and unforgiving, yet full of lived-in personality.

Most of all though, the performances are what drive this adaptation, as across the board there is a distinct realism and relatability to how the story is presented, you believe in and root for these men, and very much feel for them in the wake of a horrific situation in which they find themselves. This is no truer than with Jay Johnson as the particularly troubled, insecure figure of Yosser Hughes whom, especially in the second act, gives us a devastatingly authentic performance as we learn the true nature of Yosser's character and story.

The cast of Boys From The Blackstuff (credit: Alastair Muir)

There was no shortage of acting brilliance on display, George Caple and Amber Blease perfectly encapsulate Chrissie and Angie's fractured relationship, and the strain that often comes hand in hand with financial and employment difficulties, whilst Jamie Peacock as employment office employee (among other roles) was deliciously sanctimonious, simply dripping with condescension in the best possible way.

Wasserberg's direction wasn't always as seamless as it could be, musical transitions here and there were a smidgen clunky, however this is but the most minor of grumbles, as the overall quality of storytelling was sensational, and even now, more than 40 years after the events that inspired this piece unfolded, it feels just as relevant now as it was then.

★★★★☆

"Boys From The Blackstuff" performed at the Lowry from the 22nd - 26th of April, and continues to tour the UK through summer 2025.