BLOOD BROTHERS – SEPTEMBER 19-23
It is 30 years since Bill Kenwright’s production of Blood Brothers first toured the UK.
Now it is out on the road again and makes a welcome return to Norwich Theatre Royal this autumn.
Hailed as one of the greatest musicals of all time, it is written by the award-winning playwright Willy Russell winning four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Awards on Broadway.
It started life as a play performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981 before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983 later completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan. It also ran in the West End for 24 years exceeding 10,000 performances.

Blood Brothers, which comes to Norwich from September 19-23, tells the story of young mother Mrs Johnstone who is forced to take a job as a housekeeper to provide for her seven hungry children when her husband leaves her.

When she discovers she has fallen pregnant again with twins, her world crashes around her and she enters a secret pact with her employer leading to a tragic conclusion.

The show tells a captivating tale of twin boys separated at birth and features some iconic songs including A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the heart-tugging Tell Me It’s Not True.

Taking on the role of Mrs Johnstone is Lyn Paul who reprises a role she first played in 1997 as well as portraying the troubled character in the show’s final West End performances at the Phoenix Theatre in 2012.
Lyn rose to fame in the early Seventies as a member of The New Seekers singing on their 1972 Eurovision Song Contest entry Beg, Steal Or Borrow, and their Number One hit two years later, You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me. She is also no stranger to the stage starring in the 2013 UK tour of Cabaret, Boy George’s musical Taboo, and also Footloose The Musical.

Returning to the role of the Narrator is Dean Chisnall who last wowed Norwich audiences in the title role in Shrek The Musical and has also starred in Love Never Dies, Never Forget, Evita, and The Woman In White.

They will star opposite Sean Jones who will once again portray Mickey, a role he played in the West End as well as during the show’s previous visit to Norwich Theatre Royal in 2012.

John Bultitude, of Norwich Theatre Royal, said: “The return of Blood Brothers to Norwich is proving to be one of the autumn’s must-see productions with ticket sales very buoyant. Come along and see why this show still remains as popular as ever thirty years on from its first performance.”

Listing:

Blood Brothers, Tuesday 19-Saturday 23 September at 7.30pm, and Wed, Thurs and Sat matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets £8-£38. Discounts for Over-60s, Under-18s, Groups and Friends.
To book, log onto www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call the box office on 01603 630000