STORYHOUSE THEATRE, CHESTER – UNTIL 17TH OCTOBER 2026
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
5*****
Last night, I had the great pleasure of watching Blood Brothers on press night, and what a night it was! The theatre was packed, with row after row filled with students studying for their courses, alongside an audience who clearly knew exactly what they had come to see. This was my second time seeing Willy Russell’s iconic musical, and as I took my seat, I could hear people around me telling each other how many times they had seen it. Seventeen times was the record I heard! That says everything about just how loved Blood Brothers is here in the North West.
And it’s easy to understand why. People know the lines off by heart, yet the story still has the power to make an audience laugh, wince and ultimately break their hearts.
Set in 1960s Liverpool, Blood Brothers follows Mrs Johnstone, played brilliantly by Vivienne Carlyle, a mother struggling to raise her growing family. When circumstances lead her to make an extraordinary decision concerning one of her newborn sons, the twins grow up in very different worlds, unaware of the connection between them. Sean Jones’ Mickey and Joe Sleight’s Eddie grow up on opposite sides of the social divide, while Beth Danher’s Linda becomes an important part of their shared childhood and, later, their lives. Meanwhile, Tricia Adele Turner’s Mrs Lyons finds herself increasingly consumed by the consequences of the decision she has made. Michael Gillette’s Sammy brings another layer to Mickey’s journey as the brothers grow older.
What follows is a powerful exploration of nature versus nurture, social class, friendship, love, jealousy and fate. It’s a story that gradually tightens its emotional grip, showing how two children raised in completely different circumstances can still be connected by an unbreakable bond.
Sean Jones, Beth Danher and Tricia Adele Turner were particular standouts for me. Sean Jones and Joe Sleight portraying Mickey and Eddie at seven years old, nearly eight, were fantastic — capturing the innocence, mischief and unmistakable bond of childhood beautifully.
And then there is the music. It doesn’t simply accompany the story; it tells it. Marilyn Monroe, Easy Terms and Tell Me It’s Not True had me reaching for the tissues. The music carries so much of the emotion, making the story’s quieter moments just as powerful as its biggest scenes.
The set deserves a special mention too, creating a wonderful backdrop to this very Liverpool story, with the Liver Building proudly standing in the background.
And that ending… Even when you’ve seen Blood Brothers before, and you know that gunshot is coming, somehow, it still catches you out. You find yourself holding your breath, hoping that perhaps this time it will be different — even though you know it won’t.
As the Narrator delivered that final line, some of the audience were already on their feet, applauding, and a standing ovation quickly followed. As people began making their way out, I could hear members of the audience crying. That, to me, says everything.
Funny, powerful, beautifully performed and utterly heartbreaking, Blood Brothers remains a true North West favourite for very good reason. A timeless piece of musical theatre that still packs one hell of an emotional punch.