‘Blood Brothers’ -  Palace Theatre Manchester, November 23rd 2024

Willy Russell’s ‘Blood Brothers’ has come a long way in the forty years since it was originally performed as a touring schools’ performance at Fazakerley High School.

Then it had a cast of five actors and ran for seventy minutes to fit in with school timetables.

Now it runs for two and a half hours with a cast of fourteen actors and is one of the most popular British musicals of all time.

When I arrived at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, the audience was already snaking around the building.

Inside the stunning and ornately detailed Victorian theatre, all one thousand nine hundred and fifty-five seats were taken - another sell-out.

The curtain rose to reveal the initial back cloth, a grim panoramic view of Liverpool including the Liver Building in the distance.

Stage left was the front of some ramshackle terraced houses.

Stage right contained more derelict buildings with a large alleyway for entrances and exists.

Above the alleyway there was a balcony and windows that allow the narrator to enter and watch the story unfold below.

Centre stage is bare and is used to create many different locations.

With over thirty short scenes to tell the story, set changes needed to be rapid and slick.  

Simple pieces of set were quickly wheeled on or flats lowered down to achieve this.

The simplicity of the play’s origin still remains.                                                      

The story follows Mickey and Eddie, twins separated at birth.

Unaware of each other’s existence, Eddie is raised in a wealthy family, while Mickey, stays with their impoverished mother and siblings.

The story maps out their lives into adulthood and shows how their paths cross at different points, allowing their friendship to blossom.

Despite the differences in their upbringing, they both envy what the other one has, and both fall in love with same girl, Linda.

Tragedy seems inevitable.

The ensemble cast was excellent, but special mention must go to three of the main stars.

Joe Sleight playing the role of Eddie captured the innocence of the upper-class child whilst constantly amusing the audience.

Vivienne Carlyle brought a great range of emotions to the stage as Mrs Johnstone, and her singing was immaculate throughout.

Sean Jones, starring as Mickey portrayed the highs and lows that he suffered throughout the play with real emotion.

The music was captivating and was performed live with Matt Malone conducting an impressive six-piece band that provided faultless musical support.

The last scene of the play was particularly powerful as the truth emerges and the two brothers die.

The scene brought tears to the eyes of many of the audience before the ensemble cast of fourteen received yet another standing ovation.

‘Blood Brothers’ truly is an emotional roller-coaster, mixing comedy and tragedy with some wonderful tunes.

It certainly has come a long way.

The show returns home to Liverpool in March 2025, with tickets still available, but selling fast.