Blood Brothers is one of London’s most popular musicals and has been playing for just under 25 years. The show started out as a simple production in a school hall, before being developed further by Bill Kenwright. The show opened originally in Liverpool where it is set, and later came to the West End after many tours, featuring a wide range of celebrities in th leading roles. The show transferred to Broadway where it enjoyed modest success where Kiki Dee starred as Mrs Johnstone. The London production recently announced it was closing at the Phoenix Theatre, just shy of its 25th Birthday, putting it at the top alomgst other long running shows such as ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘The Woman in Black’. The production will continue to delight audiences on tour around the UK.
Willy Russell
Willy Russell
Willy Russell
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright and Bob Tomson
Bill Kenwright and Bob Tomson
Original London Production
The Lyric Theatre - Opened 11 Apr 1983, closed 22 Oct 1983
Cast: Barbara Dickson, and Con O’Neill.
The Albery Theatre - Opened 28 Jul 1988, closed 16 Nov 1991
Original London Production
The Phoenix Theatre - Opened 21 Nov 1991, closed 9 Nov 2012
Cast: The role of Mrs Johnstone has since been played by a wide variety of actresses such as Sarah Haye, Barbara Dickson, Stephanie Lawrence, Clodagh Rodgers, Kiki Dee, Lyn Paul, Linda Nolan, Bernie Nolan, Denise Nolan, Maureen Nolan, Melanie C, Niki Evans and Amy Robbins.
Original Broadway
The Music Box Theatre - Opened 25 Apr 1993, closed 30 Apr 1995
Cast: Kiki Dee
What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box
Blood Brothers begins with a tableau of Mrs Johnstone crying over the bodies of twin sons Eddie and Mickey who both lie dead onstage. A sinister Narrator then begins to tell their story, starting with Mrs Johnstone’s likeness to Marilyn Monroe and her ability to give birth to children. In a rough part of Liverpool, Mrs Johnstone finds out she is pregnant once again, adding to her already heavy woes. She works as a cleaner for the wealthy Mrs Lyons and the two share an informal relationship. Mrs Johnstone is extremely superstitious and is scared of Mrs Lyons putting new shoes on the table. After a visit to the doctor she is told she is actually having twins and worries about how she will cope. Mrs Lyons, who can’t have children, begs her to give one to her as soon as they are born. They make a pact and swear on the Bible, and Mrs Lyons plays on Mrs Johnstone’s superstitious feelings.
As soon as the twins are born Mrs Lyons takes one of the boys and Mrs Johnstone instantly regrets her decision. She takes comfort in the fact that at least one of her children will live a life of luxury.
Time passes and Mrs Johnstone’s children play kids games in the street. Mickey has now grown up to 7 years old and is taunted by his older brother Sammy. Mickey’s twin Eddie comes to join in and the pair bond over their similar birthday. Mickey asks Eddie to be his best friend and they decide to be ‘blood brothers’ making a pact to stay together and be friends. Mickey introduces Eddie to Linda and the three get up to trouble in the park. As the police take Eddie home, they treat the Lyons’ family very differently to the Johnstone’s who are frequently getting in trouble with the law. Mrs Lyons is worried about Eddie spending time with Mickey and tells him he is not allowed to see him any more. She pesters her husband to move away.
Eddie goes to visit Mickey to tell him they are moving away. He finds Mrs Johnstone and she is emotional seeing her son all grown up. Eddie is sad to leave his new best friend behind. Mrs Johnstone is told by the council that they are being rehoused the country that coincidentally moves them closer to the Lyons family once again. The Johnstone’s are happy at the prospect of a new life and a ‘Bright New Day’.
Act Two opens some years later as Mickey and Eddie are now 14 and at school. Mickey is pursued by Linda and bumps into Eddie again and they continue their friendship. Mrs Lyons feels threatened by the Johnstone’s reappearance in her life and begins to go mad. She goes to visit Mrs Johnstone and tries to buy her off, attacking her with a kitchen knife. She is consumed by the guilt of taking a baby from its mother.
As Eddie and Mickey grow up they begin to get further and further apart. Eddie goes away to university whilst Mickey is stuck in a low paid job. Linda tells him she is pregnant and they struggle for money. Mickey resents Eddie’s lifestyle with his posh house and posh job, and after being laid off by the factory, Mickey is convinced by Sammy to act as an accessory in an armed robbery. The robbery goes wrong and Mickey is put in prison.
Mrs Johnstone tells how Mickey gets depressed after his stint in jail. He becomes addicted to pills. Eddie and Linda begin to spend time together and it is obvious to everyone that there is a spark between them. Mickey noticed and becomes jealous, grabbing a gun to threaten Eddie at work. Mrs Johnstone chases after him and in the council chamber of Eddie’s work tells Mickey not to shoot his brother. The boys are shocked at the news as she is forced to tell them they were separated at birth. Mickey yells at her, asking ‘why didn’t you give me away – I could have been him’ and shoots Eddie, and is shot by the police. Mrs Johnstone is left onstage with the two dead bodies.
Act 1
- Overture – Orchestra, Company and Narrator
- Marilyn Monroe – Mrs. Johnstone and Company
- Marilyn Monroe (Reprise) – Mrs. Johnstone
- My Child – Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs Lyons
- Easy Terms – Mrs. Johnstone
- Shoes Upon The Table – Narrator
- Easy Terms (Reprise) – Mrs. Johnstone
- Kids’ Game – Linda, Mickey and Ensemble
- Bright New Day (Preview) – Mrs. Johnstone
- Long Sunday Afternoon/My Friend – Mickey and Eddie
- Bright New Day – Mrs. Johnstone and Company
- Entr’acte – Orchestral piece
- Marilyn Monroe 2 – Mrs. Johnstone and Company
- The Devil’s Got Your Number – Narration
- That Guy – Mickey & Eddie
- Shoes Upon the Table (Reprise) – Narrator
- I’m Not Saying A Word – Eddie
- Miss Jones – Mr Lyons, Miss Jones and Company
- Marilyn Monroe 3 – Mrs. Johnstone
- Light Romance – Mrs. Johnstone
- Madman – Narrator
- Tell Me It’s Not True – Mrs Johnstone
1983 Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actress (Barbara Dickson)
1988 Olivier Awards: Best Actor (Con O’Neill)
1993 Tony Awards: Nominated
I saw Blood Brothers 16 times over the past 20 years after falling in love with it after working on it at school. I loved it a lot! Sad it isn’t on in London any more. Hopefully I will get to 20 times by seeing it on tour.
Do you think Blood Brothers will become licensed now because it has sadly finished in the West End.
Absolutely great show, one of my all time favourites and will never be forgotten. Seen the show so many times and hopefully this brilliant show carries on touring so I can see it even more!! The casts of what I have seen in the past have been brilliant!!
Blood Brothers was the perfect intro to Musical Theatre. Love, humour, tragedy, good songs, and a killer ending. I avoided it for years, then discovered it. After that completely hooked. Make a good Movie.
I saw Blood Brothers in 2006 with Anthony Costa and Mark Hutchinson.
I absoultely LOVED it and it never left me, everytime i miss the show, i put the album on and sing along.
“I’m not saying a word” has to be my favourite song.
I cannot wait to see it again this week, especially to see Mr Hutchinson as Eddie again.
I saw blood brothers for the first time and fell in love with it and i also thought that sean jones gave an amazing performance #foreverabloodbrotherfan xxx