Overview
Synopsis
Opening in 1960s Liverpool and moving forwards in time to the early 1980s, Blood Brothers revolves around twin boys Mickey and Edward. With seven older siblings, their mother, Mrs. Johnstone, cannot afford to keep both babies and she agrees to give one away to the wealthy Mrs. Lyons. Separated at birth, they are brought up in completely different environments within the city. When they are seven years old, Mickey and Edward meet each other for the first time and realize they share a birthday. They immediately become best friends and blood brothers, but are still unaware of their true relationship. They stay close as they grow up and the bond between them remains strong, despite both being in love with Mickey’s neighbor and friend, Linda. However, the differences in their backgrounds soon threatens their friendship and pulls them in different directions. Mrs. Johnstone is finally forced to reveal that Mickey and Edward are twins, ultimately leading to their tragic deaths.
Show Information
Context
Originally produced as a high school play in 1981, Willy Russell subsequently adapted the play into a musical and it premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983 with Barbara Dickson as Mrs Johnstone and Andrew Schofiend as the Narrator. The show then transferred to the West End and ran from April to October 1983 at the Lyric Theatre. This production won the Olivier Awards for Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical (Barbara Dickson).
After two UK tours in 1984 and 1987, Blood Brothers
to read the context for Blood Brothers and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The musical opens with the bodies of Mickey and Edward lying on stage. The Narrator delivers the prologue, explaining that the men were twins who were separated at birth. He invites the audience to judge their mother’s guilt (Mrs Johnstone) for her role in their deaths.
Mrs Johnstone, a working-class mother of seven children, discovers that she is pregnant with twins shortly after her husband left her for another woman (“Marilyn Monroe”). She shares her plight with her employer,
to read the plot for Blood Brothers and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
ACT ONE
- Overture – Orchestra, Company and Narrator
- "Marilyn Monroe" – Mrs. Johnstone and Full Company
- "Marilyn Monroe" (Reprise ) – Mrs. Johnstone
- "My Child" – Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs. Lyons
- "Easy Terms" – Mrs. Johnstone
- "Shoes Upon the Table" – Narrator
- "Easy Terms" (Reprise) – Mrs. Johnstone
- "Kids' Game" – Linda, Mickey and Ensemble
- "Gypsies in the Wood" (Reprise of Shoes Upon the Table) - Narrator
- "Bright New Day" (Preview) – Mrs. Johnstone
- "Long Sunday Afternoon" / "My Friend" – Mickey and Edward
- "Bright New Day" – Mrs. Johnstone and Full Company
ACT TWO
- Entr'acte – Orchestral piece
- "Marilyn Monroe [Reprise 2]" – Mrs. Johnstone and Full Company
- "Secrets" – Narrator
- "That Guy" – Mickey and Edward
- "Shoes Upon the Table" (Reprise) – Narrator
- "I'm Not Saying a Word" – Edward
- "Miss Jones" – Mr Lyons, Miss Jones and Full Company
- "Marilyn Monroe [Reprise 3]" – Mrs. Johnstone
- "Light Romance" – Mrs. Johnstone
- "Madman" – Narrator
- "Tell Me It's Not True" – Mrs. Johnstone and Full Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A regional British dialect associated with Liverpool, often used in theatre to convey authenticity or working-class identity.
A Tragedy is a form of drama that explores human suffering, conflict, and loss, often leading to a disastrous or fatal conclusion. Traditionally, the main character experiences downfall due to a personal flaw, poor judgment, or forces beyond their control. Tragedy aims to evoke pity and fear in the audience, leading to reflection and emotional release. Categories: Dramatic Genre, Greek Theatre, Themes
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher