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BrumHour saw Blood Brothers at the invite of Birmingham Hippodrome.
By Laura Creaven
Blood Brothers at the Birmingham Hippodrome: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Fantastic
Directed Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright Written by Willy Russell
Blood Brothers is a tragic tale and a rollercoaster of emotions that will stick with you long after the final curtain.
Already having a house full, Mrs Johnstone finds herself pregnant with twins when her husband leaves her. Her employer, the middle-class Mrs Lyons, who cannot have children of her own, suggests she adopt one of the twins and raise him as her son. Despite their different upbringings, brothers Mickey and Eddie find their way back to each other throughout their childhood, creating a lifelong friendship that ends in tragedy.
Vivienne Carlyle as Mrs Johnstone is phenomenal. Her voice conveys emotion in every note, from the flourishes of first love to the pain of her sacrifice. Sean Jones as Mickey is another standout performance. His transition from the happy-go-lucky child to the adult whose mental health crumbles under the weight of a prison sentence is performed superbly. In fact, the whole cast does a fantastic job.
Rather than overwhelming the play, the musical numbers in Blood Brothers complement it well, exploring the emotions of the story and its characters. The ominous figure of the Narrator (played by Richard Munday) also helps move the plot along in a way that constantly reminds the audience of the unfolding tragedy, even when things seem to be going well. His presence is often unsettling and is performed brilliantly.
Despite being written some forty years ago, the plot of Blood Brothers feels timeless. The age-old nature-versus-nurture argument is threaded throughout the story, as are the issues of class and the precarious nature of work. While Willy Russell set the story in Liverpool between the 1950s and 1980s, it could easily be transported to cities across the world. It’s easy to see why it makes such great teaching material for secondary school students, as it is rich in social issues, human emotion and classic tragedy.
If I had one gripe, it would be a small one: the gunshots, of which there are two sets, pulled me out of the story somewhat. That said, they made much of the audience jump and created a real sense of unease and anxiety, which is exactly what the plot called for.
All in all, Blood Brothers is a fantastic play that stands the test of time. It’s a timeless tale of tragedy that will absorb audiences and break their hearts. Blood Brothers is at the Birmingham Hippodrome until 24th October 2026. Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/blood-brothers-five/.
