Bill Kenwright’s award-winning production of the much-loved musical, written by Willy Russell, returns to Leeds next week.
Few musicals have been received with such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers. Considered ‘one of the best musicals ever written’ (Sunday Times), the show surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.
It has been affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical’, as inevitably it ‘brings the audience cheering to its feet and roaring its approval’ (Daily Mail). This epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. The musical has since triumphed across the globe, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, and scooping up four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway.
The superb score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.
Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.
Vivienne Carlyle returns to the iconic role of Mrs. Johnstone, having received nightly standing ovations for her powerful and poignant performance in the West End production. Sean Jones and Joe Sleight return to the production as twins Mickey and Eddie, with Gemma Brodrick reprising the role of Linda.
Also returning to the cast for 2024 are Sarah Jane Buckley (Mrs Lyons), Scott Anson (Narrator), Tim Churchill (Mr Lyons), Chloe Pole (Donna Marie), Alex Harland (Policeman/Teacher), Graeme Kinniburgh (Postman/Bus Conductor) and Jess Smith (Brenda), with James Ledsham (Sammy), Ben Mabberley (Perkins) and Dominic Gore (Neighbour) joining the production.
When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children, she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet. It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax.
Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is at Leeds Grand Theatre from 3 – 7 December 2024.
Book online at leedsheritagetheatres.com or call the Box Office on 0113 243 0808
Photography by Jack Merriman with the Casts of 2022 and 2023.
Main image: Sean Jones as Mickey and the 2023 Spring Cast of Blood Brothers.
