Everyone experiences life’s ups and downs, no matter who they may be. Whether you’re rich or poor, famous or not, young or old, life will present its own unique challenges. Blood Brothers explores the delicate nature of life and death, following a story of two twins separated at birth, taken from the original story by iconic Liverpudlian playwright Willy Russell, and it opened in Manchester last night (November 19).
Bill Kenwright’s award-winning adaptation of Blood Brothers is currently playing at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until November 30, and you’ll want to catch it before it’s gone. Set in Liverpool, Blood Brothers follows the life of two families from polar opposite socioeconomic backgrounds, with twin brothers separated at birth.
The twins’ biological mother is barely scraping by, having fallen victim to the rampant poverty in Liverpool during the latter half of the 19th century, whilst Eddie’s adoptive mother is a rich socialite who struggled to have children of her own. The brothers can’t help but be drawn together, after figuring out they have the same birthday, despite their mother’s wishes, before meeting tragic fates.
The current run of Blood Brothers is led strongly by Vivienne Carlyle as Mrs. Johnstone, the twins’ biological mother, who carries the emotion of the show wholeheartedly from start to end. We are taken through the complex story by the narrator, bringing the musical back to its roots as written by Willy Russell, played brilliantly by Scott Anson who returns twenty years after playing the same role.
The eponymous ‘Blood Brothers’, Mickey and Eddie, are played by Sean Jones and Joe Sleight respectively, and once you see them in these roles, you’ll not be able to picture anyone else. From the childlike wonderment of the seven-year-old (nearly eight) twins, through their teenage years and into adulthood where harsh reality awaits, the two are wholly convincing and completely lovable.
The heartwarming friendship between the two is constantly bittersweet, and their trajectories in life entirely plausible, aided by Gemma Brodrick‘s Linda who brings the first air of competition between the twins. As a Northern audience, the resonance of the story is palpable, and the way the score and incredible production compliments the amazing talent onstage really brings this Northern, industrial story home.
Lucky audience members can expect to hear songs including A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally-charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True, all of which will stick around in your mind for days, and given the standing ovation and sniffles around the audience we experienced, Blood Brothers is well worth the watch.
Blood Brothers is at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 30th November 2024. You can book your tickets here.