Blood Brothers Returns
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.
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