The Slab Boys Revived

The Citizens Theatre celebrates its 70th anniversary with a revival of The Slab Boys from original creatives and stalwarts of Scottish theatre John Byrne and David Hayman

Feature by Emma Ainley-Walker | 03 Feb 2015

2015 marks the 70th birthday of Glasgow’s Citizens theatre taking up residence in its now iconic Gorbals home. The Citz celebrates this milestone with another, as John Byrne and David Hayman reunite to revive Byrne’s highly successful play The Slab Boys. 

The Slab Boys was first performed in April 1978 at Edinburgh’s Traverse theatre and quickly became one of the best-loved Scottish plays of the 20th Century. Now, for its revival, Byrne will design the production while Hayman steps back into his original role as director. Although Byrne and Hayman are both stalwarts of Scottish theatre, it is the first time the two have worked together since the original production, and it is all but guaranteed to be an exciting reunion. 

In addition to providing direction, Hayman joins the cast as Mr Currie, the gaffer. After last treading the boards there as King Lear in 2012, the Citz feels like something of a home for Hayman, who appeared regularly as a member of the company throughout the 70s. 

But it is not just about bringing back the production and reuniting it in its original form. Instead it is about injecting something new into the play, and making it relevant to a new generation. Hayman will be joined on stage by a cast of young Scottish performers who are ready to make this play their own. Not least in the cast is Sammy Hayman, David Hayman’s son and a recent graduate of the RCS, as Phil. There is a nice tradition and handing on of the mantle reflected in a son making his Citizens debut alongside his father, in a production that must be close to the family. It seems an appropriate microcosm of what this production is hoping to do; revive and remember what is already loved and bring it to a new generation.

The story of The Slab Boys is one that is close to Scotland’s heart, as it uses the wit and humour of the script to paint a grim picture of working class life in the 1950s. While the boys discuss their aspirations and hopes, they remain working in a Paisley carpet factory. Hayman describes the piece as “a celebration of working class life, a wonderful story of high hopes and lost dreams,” and while Scotland may have come far since the 1970s and even further since the 1950s, these themes still resonate today; its revival shows how much there still is to overcome. 

These themes have appeared repeatedly in the programming at the Citz, with 2014’s In Time O' Strife and Scottish interpretation of Miss Julie, which makes it exactly the right direction to take in celebrating the theatre’s past and showing what we can expect in its future endeavours. 

In addition to the production, the Citz is providing two special events inviting audiences further into the production. First, on Thursday 19 February, there's John Byrne and David Hayman In Conversation at 5.45pm, allowing audiences to enter into the journey of The Slab Boys, from its initial creation to their new collaboration for the Citz' anniversary production. Following this on Saturday 7 March is Lunch with The Slab Boys, exploring the text and the production with conversation and questions over a buffet lunch. 

The Slab Boys runs at the Citz from 12 February-7 March, before transferring to The King’s Theatre Edinburgh for a short run from 10-14 March. This revival is not one to be missed for Scottish theatre lovers. In true Citz spirit, 50p tickets will go on sale at 10am on 7 February at the Citizens Box Office.

The Slab Boys, Citizens Theatre then King's Theatre Edinburgh, 12 Feb-14 Mar, 50p-£20.50.