Bill Kenwright‘s legendary production of the international smash hit musical Blood Brothers is rumoured to return to the West End in 2023. The much-loved musical, which performed to sell-out houses and standing ovations on its most recent UK tour in 2019-2020 will reportedly play a limited run in London.
Winner of four Best Musical awards in London and nominated for seven Tony Award on Broadway, Bill Kenwright’s original production of Blood Brothers surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.
Written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell (Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine), few musicals have been received with such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers. Considere “one of the best musicals ever written” (Sunday Times), 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).
Blood Brothers originally opened at the Albery Theatre (now the Noel Coward Theatre) on 27 August 1988, closing on 16 November 1991 and moving to the Phoenix Theatre, where it ran from 21 November 1991 to 10 November 2012.
The acclaimed score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the hit song Tell Me It’s Not True.
What's the story of Blood Brothers?
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.
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.
Who is in the cast of Blood Brothers?
Casting for the West End revival of Blood Brothers is to be announced. Famous names to feature in the central role of Mrs Johnston have included Barbara Dickson, Stephanie Lawrence, Clodagh Rodgers, Kiki Dee, Lyn Paul, Siobhan McCarthy, Katie Scott, four of the Nolan sisters (Linda, Bernie, Denise and Maureen), Spice Girl Melanie and Lyn Paul.
Who are the creative team of Blood Brothers?
Written by Willy Russell (Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine), one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists, Blood Brothers is directed by Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright, with Musical Direction by Matt Malone, Sound by Dan Samson, Set & Costumes by Andy Walmsley and Lighting by Nick Richings .
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