Blood Brothers

WHETHER YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BLOOD BROTHERS OR WATCHED IT MANY TIMES, THIS ICONIC CLASSIC KEEPS ON GIVING!

Blood Brothers is back, and it's every bit as gripping, emotional, and thrilling as ever. The musical classic has returned to the stage, bringing its heart-wrenching story of fate, family, and class division to Manchester once again. Despite it being a classic, it’s actually one I’d never seen before, so I was excited to get to experience it for the first time.

Like many theatre kids, Blood Brothers sends me back to GCSE Drama, so I already had a decent knowledge of the show and could recite particular key moments and monologues. It was great to see a bunch of school trips turn up to the Tuesday night performance as it really brought me back to being a teen with a love for theatre - though thankfully this is a review I’m writing and not a reflective analysis.

Written by the legendary Willy Russell, Blood Brothers tells the tale of twin brothers separated at birth and raised in completely different worlds - although only down the road from each other. Mickey and Eddie’s lives follow starkly contrasting paths, but as fate would have it, their paths are destined to cross in the most tragic way imaginable. The show explores themes of love, jealousy, social inequality, and the impact of upbringing, all set to a brilliant score which includes heart wrenching ballads.

Since its West End debut in 1988, Blood Brothers has become a staple of British theatre, and for good reason. The score pulls at your heartstrings, with songs like Marilyn Monroe, Tell Me It’s Not True, and Easy Terms, while also making you reflect on the harsh realities of life. 

It was Vivienne Carlyle’s (Blood Brothers, Saltimbanco, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) performance as Mrs Johnstone that really tested your emotions. Throughout the show, and no matter the age of Mickey and Eddie, her undying love as a mother was there. There was a stark contrast between Mrs Johnstone and Sarah Jane Buckley (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Slice of Saturday Night, ITV’s Emmerdale) as Mrs Lyons, showing two very different types of motherhood, once again highlighting the class divide. 

It was Mickey and Eddie that really stole the stole. With Sean Jones (The Turnip Field, Wave Me Goodbye, Macbeth) as Mickey and Joe Sleight (Wicked, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Blood Brothers) as Eddie, the pair had fantastic brotherly chemistry. They had the audience belly laughing in the first act whilst portraying the seven, almost eight year olds, and their mannerisms were spot on. It was so much fun to watch them playing around on the stage. In every stage of Mickey and Eddie’s lives, you could tell they had a friendship that was next level, as though they almost knew they were brothers. This chemistry and friendship made their fate even more sad to see played out. 

Led by Scott Anson (Canterbury Tales, God’s Drumming, Blood Brothers) as the Narrator, the ensemble was fantastic, bringing the story’s powerful themes to life. From the bustling streets of Liverpool to the classroom and even right up to the end, the entire cast creates a world that feels real and lived-in, adding to the emotional intensity of the show. The harmonies during the finale were stunning too, it was really raw and emotional - though I was still recovering from the jump scare of the gunshots! 

One of the standout moments of Blood Brothers is how it brings social issues to the forefront without ever feeling preachy. The divide between the working-class Johnstones and the middle-class Lyons is stark, and it’s impossible not to feel the weight of class disparity in every scene. The way the musical weaves these themes into the characters’ lives and songs adds a layer of depth that elevates it from a simple drama to a powerful statement on fate and society. Even though it’s set decades ago, it’s a story that still feels fairly relevant to today. 

The set design included housing across both sides of the stage with doors and alleyways for the cast to enter and exit. One side was terraced council housing whereas the other, you guessed it, was a middle-class detached house. The interiors of rooms, from a living room to a classroom, would be brought down in the centre to transform the stage into a new scene. It was reflective of the time, as were the costumes - which were also used to highlight the class divide.

I’d always heard of Blood Brothers being referred to as a classic, though it was never one at the top of my bucket list. Now I can see why it’s such an iconic piece that is loved by many. It’s slightly different to a typical musical and takes you on a real emotional rollercoaster - it’s crazy how they can have you laughing at one scene and crying at the next. Get yourself to the Palace Theatre, whether you’ve seen it or not, as you’ll be in for a treat. 

WE SCORE BLOOD BROTHERS..

“Did you ever hear the story of the Johnstone twins?”

When I was young, I saw “Tell me it’s not true” performed at the Royal Variety on television.  This was my first taste of the Johnstone twins story and as well as blubbing uncontrollably, I was also instantly hooked by the trumpet accompaniment, as I was learning the instrument at the time.  So of course, my next brass lesson, I fancied myself as a bit of an expert and was all over that melody, convinced I was ready to step in should their trumpet player fall ill.  Of course, it probably sounded more like a fog horn / strangled cat duet but a little thing like reality wasn’t going to deter me.  Fast forward nine or so years and I got the chance to play it correctly whilst at university in a musicals revue.  My inner mini me was beaming.  In more recent years, I have guided many a GCSE drama student through the play, and only two days ago I was tutoring a student for a graded exam with his chosen piece from Blood Brothers – “Our Sammy.”  Why am I telling you all this?  I did forget my point halfway through my trip down memory lane to be honest (it’s been that kind of day) but basically it’s to show just how big the appeal of this show is, from young children, to teenagers, to adults and beyond.  I’ve loved this show at every age – possibly because every stage of life is represented in the show.  Its humourous to heart wrenching storyline, unbelievably catchy songs, solid Northern humour, and it’s unique approach of storytelling, all blend into a brilliantly bittersweet bloomin’ great show.

Blood Brothers is one of the most successful musicals of its time, consistently pulling in audiences whether they’re seeing the show for the tenth time or being wowed for the first time.  It is a show with humanity at its very core, exploring class division, love, life, friendship, family, and how fragile it can all be.  Just one lie can shatter all that you hold dear.  Set in 1960’s Liverpool, twin brothers Mickey and Eddie are separated at birth, one brought up with wealth, the other without.  Through chance, or fate, they meet as children and become the best of friends, sealing their bond with blood.  Little do they know it is shared blood that runs through their veins.  As they grow older they lose touch, but fate intervenes and once again they are drawn together as adults and as blood brothers.  They have no idea that their past will determine their future and end in tragedy.

The show opens with a pure drama.  The stage is flood lit in symbolic red to the slowly building echo of “Tell me It’s not true.”  Characters solemnly make their way on stage to ‘begin at the end’, giving us a glimpse of what is to become of our blood brothers Mickey and Eddie. Mrs. Johnstone and the Narrator guide us through the opening of the show, setting the scene of her circumstances and edging ever closer to the moment that seven-year-old Mickey bursts onto the stage playing Cowboys and Indians, with the fizzing imagination, energy and pure innocence of youth. 

Mickey was played by understudy Josh Capper (Hound Of The Baskervilles, Dreamboats and Petticoats, High School Musical).  He was incredible!  Capper transformed the character of Mickey at every stage of his life, from a seven-year-old (even though he’s nearly eight!) to a twenty-something year old.  He was funny, loveable, innocent and charming as a child, cheeky, witty and playful as a teenager, and heartbreakingly, beaten and broken as an adult - a victim of class, circumstance and desperation.  

Eddie was portrayed by Joel Benedict (previous Blood Brothers tour, Spamalot, Hearts) and juxtaposed Mickey to perfection. Again, he endeared us to his character as we watched him grow up and discover fun and freedom through his friendship with Mickey.  Benedict made you love Eddie just as much as Mickey through his ability to see beyond class and see the person, unlike his mum and dad.  Finishing off the tragic trio was Carly Burns (Tommy, Cinderella) as Linda.  She was a beautiful blend of silly to sassy as she grew up and supported Capper and Benedict in their roles with respect yet she was never over shadowed.

Niki Evans (X Factor, Kinky Boots, previous Blood Brothers production, Legally Blonde) was outstanding as Mrs. Johnstone.  It became clear at the interval that I was sat amongst many die-hard Blood Brothers fans and their statement was “Best Mrs. Johnstone ever!”  Her emotional range was never ending and she didn’t half take us on a roller coaster of a journey, leaving virtually everyone gulping for air through their sobs as she started off the finale. Incredible.

Robbie Scotcher (Mamma Mia, Chess, Guys and Dolls) was the Narrator, a tricky part that does exactly what is says on the tin, but it is so much more.  Some audience members didn’t seem to know how to take this part and giggled as he seemingly randomly appeared on stage at any given moment, but I didn’t see it as random at all.  He was always there because he was holding up a mirror to Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs. Lyons, ensuring they could never escape their own conscience, their own guilt, and though they may hide their secret from the world, the Narrator reminded them and us that they could never hide it from themselves.  He was both a welcome and intimidating presence.

Blood Brothers will bleed you dry of every imaginable emotion.  There are moments of pure simple honesty, such as Mickey hiding under his oversized and over stretched sweater vest, crying at the cruelty of his older brother humiliating him infront of their friends.  There are blasts of hilarity with the unexpected but spot on one liners delivered as only kids can.  There are some of the most intricate human songs you will ever hear, moments you can hear a pin drop, finished off with shocks, tears, laughter and nostalgia.  It reaches out and touches you because it’s writer, Willy Russell, is a genius.

Blood Brothers is a British institution and its no shock that the theatre was utterly packed.  Tonight's performance was loved and appreciated so much that the cast were only able to leave the stage after about ten curtain calls to a full house of standing ovations from the audience.  I feel wrung out, but more appreciative of my lot in life, because if I’ve learnt anything tonight it’s that split decisions can change your life beyond recognition. We should never take anything for granted because any one of us could find ourselves, by chance, fate, or circumstance, as tomorrows cautionary tale.   

“Did you ever hear the story of the Johnstone twins?”

Whether the answer to that is yes or no, you should definitely go and hear it regardless because it is one story that certainly won’t become tomorrow's chip paper!

WE SCORE BLOOD BROTHERS - 10/10