Blood Brothers Returns

Jan 31 2020 | By More

Playhouse dates on sale for Autumn tour

Blood Brothers is returning to the Edinburgh Playhouse in October 2020 as part of an Autumn tour which is also booked to play the Glasgow King’s.

The good news is that tickets are already on sale. The bad news, at least for fans of Lyn Paul, is that the New Seekers singer has gone off to teach other parts of the world to sing and has quit the show. The Spring 2020 tour really will be be her last in the role of Mrs Johnstone, it seems.

A scene from Blood Brothers (previous tour). Pic Robert Day

Blood Brothers tells the moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret. The memorable score features A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True,

Willy Russell originally wrote and presented Blood Brothers as a school play in 1981, telling the epic Liverpool-based tale of twin boys separated at birth – only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret.

He added a score and re-worked the show as a musical, opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983 with Barbara Dixon as Mrs Johnstone, before transferring to the West End in 1984. The 1987 revival ran in the West End for 24 years and the musical has notched up over 10,000 West End performances.

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.

secret pact

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.

Casting details for the Autumn 2020 tour will be released at a later date. So far, only the two dates have been confirmed: at the Edinburgh Playhouse, from Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 October, and the Glasgow King’s the following week, Tuesday 27 – Saturday 31 October.

Casting for the Spring 2020 tour includes Lyn Paul as Mrs Johnstone with Alexander Patmore as Mickey, Joel Benedict as Eddie, Danielle Corlass as Linda, Paula Tappenden as Mrs Lyons, Danny Taylor as Sammy and Robbie Scotcher as the narrator. Venues and ticket links are detailed below.

Listings

Blood Brothers
Edinburgh Playhouse 18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA.
Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 October
Evenings: 7.30pm; matinees Weds/Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book online here.

Glasgow King’s 297 Bath St, Glasgow G2 4JN
Tuesday 27 – Saturday 31 October,
Evenings: 7.30pm; matinees Weds/Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book online here.

Blood Brothers Spring 2020 tour:
4 – 8 February Brighton
Theatre Royal
08448 717615 Book online
11 – 15 February Richmond 
Richmond Theatre
08448 717615 Book online
18 – 29 February Dublin
Bord Gais Energy Theatre *
+353 (1) 677 7999 Book online
3 – 7 March Derry 
Millenium Forum *
028 7126 4455 Book online
10 – 14 March Grimsby
The Auditorium
0300 300 0035 Book online
17 – 21 March Coventry
Belgrade Theatre
024 7655 3055 Book online
24 – 28 March Wolverhampton
Grand Theatre
01902 429212 Book online
31 March – 4 April Woking
New Victoria Theatre
08448 717615 Book online
7 – 11 April Lichfield
Garrick Theatre
01543 412121 Book online
Autumn 2020 leg of Blood Brothers tour:
Tue 20 – Sat 24 October Edinburgh
Playhouse **
0844 871 3014 Book online
Tue 27 – Sat 31 October Glasgow
King’s Theatre **
0844 871 7648 Book online
* The role of Mrs Johnstone will be played by Rebecca Storm in Dublin and Derry.
** Casting has yet to be announced for the Autumn leg of the tour.

ENDS

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