A centenary celebration is a milestone in itself, but having Liverpool’s iconic musical back in the city’s legendary theatre for its one-hundredth birthday is a new level of special. Audience members may have watched Blood Brothers countless times, I being not from the city, have only studied Willy Russell’s play, never seeing it performed. So, I had all hopes this would live up to expectation.
Bringing Sean Jones back to re-imagine Mickey was a stellar move by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright. He was at home in that character and his ease in the role from age seven to eighteen is nothing but smooth and effortless. Together with Joe Sleight’s equally natural and charming Eddie, they make a magnicent pair, full of vivacity until the very end.
This musical will never die. Just like the Empire, it has stood the test of time and will continue to move audiences and attract resounding applause. Blood Brothers has all the passion of the city rolled into one, from the tears of laughter it inspires to the deepest sorrow. No emotion is half-felt.
The nation and the world connect to the people of Liverpool in this show and this cast carried on that mantle. Each performer was dedicated to the story, as if it was being performed for the rest of time. It was believable, dramatic where needed and wholly detailed.
Niki Evans’ Mrs Johnstone was bolshy and soulful, passionate from the start and wonderfully offset by Sarah Buckley’s suffocating Mrs Lyons. Out of the intimate scenes, the versatile cast meant that each ensemble moment was surprising, enthusiastic and ‘in yer face’ as it should be, all monitored stoically by Sean Keany’s narrator who was eerie and imposing. Modern melodrama done well.
Classics done badly are worse than classics forgotten; homage was paid to Blood Brothers in this resurrection. The writing being understood by all involved as the best character. The live band, supervised by Matt Malone, was a perfect accompaniment to the performance on stage, elevating each emotion expressed in the story, enough to make the hairs stand on end.
That can also be said of the lighting and set design, envisioned by Nick Richings and Andy Walmsley respectively, which brought the world to life on stage, providing the essential depictions of class divide and the surrealism of fate and superstition that keeps the story so tragic.
If it lives to see the day, I expect Blood Brothers will also be the production of choice for the Empire’s bicentenary celebrations. This performance, its actors, musicians, and back-stage crew are self-aware of its iconic stature but in a humble subservient way. It really should not be missed.
The performance continues until Saturday 22nd March. You can reserve tickets via this link: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/blood-brothers/liverpool-empire/
Reviewer: Hannah Esnouf
Reviewed: 11th March 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Rating: 5 out of 5.
