BILL KENWRIGHT’S
MULTI AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION OF
BLOOD BROTHERS
IS BACK FOR AUTUMN 2022!
WITH FORMER X-FACTOR FINALIST NIKI COLWELL EVANS
RETURNING AS THE ICONIC MRS JOHNSTONE
ALONGSIDE SEAN JONES, COMPLETING HIS FINAL EVER TOUR IN THE ROLE OF MICKEY JOHNSTONE
OPENING AT THE THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR
AHEAD OF A 16 WEEK AUTUMN TOUR
Bill Kenwright‘s legendary, award-winning production of the international smash hit musical, Blood Brothers returns to the stage for a 16-week tour from 28 July at Theatre Royal Windsor. The much-loved musical, performed to sell-out houses on its recent UK tour and returns with gusto, running nationally from 28 July – 03 December 2022.
Niki Colwell Evans and Sean Jones, continue in the iconic roles of Mrs Johnstone and Mickey Johnstone respectively.
Niki Colwell Evans first rose to fame in 2007 when she reached the semi-final of series 4 of The X Factor UK mentored by Louis Walsh. After her debut solo single ‘Love Me No More’ in 2008, she went on to play the iconic role Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre between 2008-2009 and in 2010 where she received rave reviews from critics. Following on from this she performed in the pantomimes Cinderella as the Fairy Godmother at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (2009-2010) and in Kinky Boots as Trish (UK Tour 2018/21). She played the role of Paulette in the musical adaptation of Legally Blonde (UK Tour 2012) receiving high acclaim for her performance as Elle’s sassy confidante. Over the years, Niki has toured as a solo singer with pop stars such as Sonia, Lonnie Gordon, Big Fun and Yell. In 2016, she performed at the Queen’s 90th celebrations at Windsor Castle alongside Dame Helen Mirren, Damien Lewis, Andrea Boccelli, Katherine Jenkins, Gary Barlow, Kylie Minogue and many more.
Sean Jones is thrilled to be returning to the part of Mickey in Blood Brothers (until 19 November). He has had a long and successful association with the role since 1999, having played it in both West End and touring productions to critical acclaim. His other stage credits include: Aladdin; Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan; Macbeth (UK Tour and Singapore); and Jacqueline’s Wilson’s world premiere of Wave Me Goodbye (Theatr Clwyd). His TV credits include Emmerdale, The Royal Today, Hollyoaks and The Chase.
Josh Capper will play the role of Mickey from 22nd November to 3rd December (Poole and Cardiff).
Joining the cast for the Autumn tour are Jay Worley (Eddie), Richard Munday (Narrator) and Timothy Lucas (Sammy). They will join previous cast members; Paula Tappenden (Mrs Lyons), Tim Churchill (Mr Lyons), Carly Burns (Linda), Nick Wilkes (Policeman/Teacher), Josh Capper(Neighbour), Grace Galloway (Donna Marie/Miss Jones), Melissa Potts (Brenda), Andy Owens (Perkins) and Jacob Yolland (Bus Conductor).
Written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell, few musicals have been received with such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers. Considered ‘one of the best musicals ever written’ (Sunday Times), Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone. It has been affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical’, as inevitably it “brings the audience cheering to its feet and roaring its approval” (Daily Mail).
This epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. The musical has since triumphed across the globe, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, and scooping up four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway.
The superb score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.
Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.
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.
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.
LISTINGS
Bill Kenwright presents
BLOOD BROTHERS
Autumn 2022 UK Tour
28 July – 03 December 2022
Written by Willy Russell
Directed by Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright
Musical Direction by Matt Malone
Sound by Dan Samson
Set & Costumes by Andy Walmsley
Lighting by Nick Richings
Associate Lighting Designer Darran Curtis
TOUR SCHEDULE
Theatre Royal, Windsor theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
28 July– 30 July 2022 01753 853 8888
Grand Opera House, Belfast goh.co.uk
02 – 13 August 2022 028 9024 1919
Perth Concert Hall, Perth horsecross.co.uk
23 – 27 August 2022 01738621031
Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes miltonkeynes-theatre.co.uk
30 August – 03 September 2022 0333 009 6690
Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds leedsheritagetheatres.com
06 – 10 September 2022 01132430808
Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton grandtheatre.co.uk
13 – 17 September 2022 01902429212
Empire Theatre, Sunderland atgtickets.com
20 – 24 September 2022 0844 871 7615
Regent Theatre, Stoke-On-Trent atgtickets.com
27 September – 01 October 2022 0844 871 7615
The Sands Centre, Carlisle betterboxoffice.co.uk
04 – 08 October 2022 01228633766
Winter Gardens, Blackpool wintergardensblackpool.co.uk
11 – 15 October 2022 0844 770 0593
Lowry Theatre, Salford thelowry.com
18 – 22 October 2022 0343 208 6000
The Empire, Liverpool atgtickets.com
25 October – 05 November 2022 0844 871 7615
The Orchard, Dartford orchardtheatre.co.uk
08 – 12 November 2022 03433100033
Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury atgtickets.com
15 – 19 November 2022 0844 871 7615
Lighthouse, Poole lighthousepoole.co.uk
22 – 26 November 2022 01202 280000
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff wmc.org.uk
29 November – 03 December 2022 029 2063 6464
Running Time: 2 hours 45 minutes (including interval)