Boys From The Black Stuff Review
‘Gis a job. I can do that’.
Boys from the Black Stuff is now performing at Garrick Theatre. The original TV writer Alan Bleasdale and acclaimed playwright James Graham along with the late Bill Kenwight have collaborated to bring Boys from the Black Stuff to the stage.
Set in Liverpool in the 1980s, Boys from theBlack Stuff charts the impact of unemployment for five men and their families. At this time, there were thousands of job losses at the Liverpool port and in manufacturing and unemployment was high. Unemployment can have so many far reaching consequences that impact physical and mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, financial stability, housing and the ability to provide for one’s children. We see all of these to a lesser or greater extent play out. From Chrissy’s deteriorating marriage, to Yossef’s mental health and Dixie being placed in a compromising position. Chrissie, Loggo, George, Dixie and Yosser all struggle with loss of pride and self-esteem but above all a loss of hope. We watch them confront tough decisions: take cash-in hand unsafe jobs to provide for their families but risk losing their state benefits. What are they meant to do?
We are being asked ‘what would you do?’ Fortunately, we can defer answering this and enjoy the production but it’s a question that’s remained with me a week on from seeing the play. It’s abundantly clear that the themes are as relevant today. Turn on the news and we see the current cost of living crisis and hear of families struggling to meet ends meet, and the pressure on services to provide support.
Airing in 1982, Boys from the Black Stuff became the talk of the nation. I had never heard of the one season five episode drama until reading the brochure for the play, but many of my British family had seen it during its original airing. They can remember vividly some scenes and sayings with my cousins attempting the Scouse accent for ‘Gis a job. I can do that’. My dad talked of his experience of being forced to strike, my cousin remembered seeing the broadcasts of strike action and her husband remembered electricity shortages. These were stories I’d never heard before. I’d hope that similar to my experience, that this production might act as a conversation starter with friends and family about life in the 80s.
Walking into the theatre we are transported to a bleak landscape, with a screen showing water, cranes and corrugated iron structures. This makes Liverpool its self seem a character. Director Kate Wasserberg keeps the action brisk.
The ten-strong cast include: George Caple, Dominic Carter, Helen Carter, Aron Julius, Nathan McMullen, Lauren O’Neil, Jamie Peacock, Barry Sloane, Philip Whitchurch, and Mark Womack. A shout out to Sloane as who provided an intense, emotional yet comic Yossef. O’Neil as Angie gets some character shouting ‘you should have paid them a living wage’ when
a developer comes into the pub, but otherwise the women roles are a comic wife or employment officers who we are meant to see as the villains of the story. There’s some rough speech and minor violence, presumably in keeping with the essence of of the tv show.
It’s fitting that a play about Liverpool originated in Liverpool. After premiering at Liverpool’s Royal Court, it then transferred to the National Theatre and is now at the Garrick Theatre for 8 weeks only from 13th June to 3rd August.
A worthwhile tale about men, masculinity and mental health.
Address: Garrick Theatre
2 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0HH
Website: https://boysfromtheblackstuff.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackstuffstage
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/blackstuffonstage
Written by Caitlin Neal
