NTERNATIONAL TRIUMPH BLOOD BROTHERS
TO EMBARK ON 2016 UK TOUR THIS AUTUMN
LYN PAUL RETURNS TO THE ROLE OF MRS JOHNSTONE
The international smash hit musical Blood Brothers is set to visit theatres across the UK this autumn. The tour opens in Malvern on Tuesday 13 September. Blood Brothers played its debut performance in Liverpool in 1983; the autumn tour will make a welcome return ‘home’ to the Empire Theatre for two weeks from 19 September.
No stranger to Blood Brothers, ‘The definitive Mrs Johnstone’ (Manchester Evening News) Lyn Paulreturns to the iconic role, one she first played in 1997. Lyn played Mrs Johnstone in the final West End performances at the Phoenix Theatre in 2012. She has also starred in the UK tour of Cabaret in 2013 as Fraulein Schneider, in Boy George’s musical Taboo and in Footloose – the Musical.
Lyn rose to fame in the early 1970s as a member of the New Seekers. She was the featured vocalist on their 1972 Eurovision Song Contest entry, ‘Beg, Steal or Borrow’, in which they came second and lead vocalist on the 1974 number-one hit ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’. Among the group’s other works, they recorded the song ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing’, adapted from an advertising jingle for Coca-Cola, which sold over 20 million copies and still remains one of the 100 best-selling singles in the UK.
Hailed as one of the best musicals of all time, Blood Brothers, written by award-winning playwrightWilly Russell has triumphed across the globe. Scooping up no fewer than four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Blood Brothers is simply unmissable and unbeatable. This epic tale of Liverpool life ran in London’s West End for 24 years and exceeded 10,000 performances. It is one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.
Blood Brothers tells the captivating and 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 includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.
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.
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. A sensational cast, incredible show stopping music, remarkable staging and five star performances make Blood Brothers an enthralling night of entertainment.
Willy Russell is undeniably one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Educating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti.
Tickets: From £14
Box Office: 0871 3024
Online Booking: www.atgtickets.com/york
Bill Kenwright presents
BLOOD BROTHERS
By Willy Russell
Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright
Designed by Andy Walmsley Sound Designed By Dan Samson
Musical Direction by Kelvin Towse Lighting Designed by Nick Richings
BLOOD BROTHERS – AUTUMN 2016 TOUR DATES
Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 September Box Office: 01684 892 277
Malvern Theatres Website: www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
Monday 19 September – Saturday 1 October Box Office: 0844 871 3017
Liverpool Empire Website:www.atgtickets.com
Tuesday 4 – Saturday 8 October Box Office: 028 7126 4455
Londonderry, Millennium Forum Website:www.millenniumforum.co.uk
Monday 10 – Saturday 22 October Box Office: 0844 338 5000
Birmingham Hippodrome Website:www.birminghamhippodrome.com
Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 October Box Office: 01642 551389
Billingham, Forum Theatre Website:www.forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk
Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 November Box Office: 01305 783225
Weymouth Pavilion Website:www.weymouthpavilion.com
Monday 7 – Saturday 12 November Box Office: 0844 871 3024
York, Grand Opera House Website:www.atgtickets.com
Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 November Box Office: 0843 208 6000
The Lowry, Salford Quays Website: www.thelowry.com
Monday 21 – Saturday 26 November Box Office: 01322 220000
Dartford, Orchard Theatre Website:www.orchardtheatre.co.uk
Monday 28 November – Saturday 3 December Box Office: 0844 871 7650
Brighton, Theatre Royal Website:www.atgtickets.com
BLOOD BROTHERS – SPRING 2017 TOUR DATES
**Monday 16 – Saturday 21 January Box Office: 0844 871 7645
Woking, New Victoria Theatre Website:www.atgtickets.com
**Monday 23 January – Saturday 4 February Box Office: 0114 249 6000
Sheffield Theatres, Lyceum Theatre Website:www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
** Monday 6 – Saturday 11 March Box Office: 024 7655 3055
Coventry, Belgrade Theatre Website:www.belgrade.co.uk
**Monday 13 – Saturday 18 March Box Office: 08448 112121
Newcastle, Theatre Royal Website:www.theatreroyal.co.uk
**Monday 20 – Saturday 26 March Box Office: 01224 641122
Aberdeen, His Majesty’s Theatre Website:www.aberdeenperformingarts.com
**Monday 27 – Saturday 8 April Box Office: 00353 1 677 7999
Dublin, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre Website:www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
**Monday 10 – Saturday 15 April Box Office: 0844 871 3012
Bristol Hippodrome Website:www.atgtickets.com