REVIEW - Whether you've never seen Blood Brothers or watched it many times, this iconic classic keeps on giving!

On Tuesday, we went to the Palace Theatre, Manchester to see Blood Brothers. See what our reviewer, Lizzie Johnston thought about this fantastic musical...

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..

Blood Brothers is on at the Palace Theatre, Manchester until Sat 30th November 2024.


BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY!