Blood Brothers - A Drama by Willy Russell
Directed by James Schofield
Monday 16th to Saturday 21st March 2009
A tale of twin brothers who are born into a large working class family and what happens when their mother decides to have one of them adopted. The play looks at the differences and conflicts of their upbringings, their relationships with each other and with their real and adopted mothers. This is the play version and not the musical.
The Cast
Narrator - Dean Wanless
Mrs Johnston - Julie Proffitt
Milkman, Doctor and Policeman - Nicholas Worthington
Mrs Lyons - Nicky Mead
Mickey - Mat Hepplestone
Edward - Bernie Culshaw
Linda - Joanne Bell
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Photography by: Jessie Wright & Tony Birch
A CD of photographs from the show are available for 1.00, please contact us using the form on the contact page
Production Team
Set Building Team - Steve Hyde, John Carroll, Tracy Ireland, Marion Hurst, Irene Parker, Tony Birch, Mike Jordan, Freddie Pitts, Frank Gibbons
Set design - Steve Hyde
Theatre Artist - Tracy Ireland
Wardrobe Manager - Marion Hurst
Lighting Design - Tony Birch
Sound Operative - Claire White
Lighting Operative - Sue Thorp
Stage Manager - Mike Jordan
Properties - Connie Brooksbank
Continuity - Pat Hatton, Dot Hynes
Bar & Front Of House Staff - DLT Members
Artistic Director - Norma Raif
Production Co-Ordinator - Lynn Henry
Ticket Secretary - Peter Larkin
Marketing - Claire White
Poster Design & Production - Claire White
Programme Compilation - Alan Crozier
Review from the Tameside Reporter
Masterly brothers
'Have you ever heard about the Johnston twins?' utters the brooding narrator introducing us to a tragic slice of Merseyside melodrama.
After more than two decades of stage success, there are few theatre fans who don't know of the Scouse siblings who take centre stage in the classic Blood Brothers.
Taking on a play steeped in such rich history was certainly a daunting challenge for Droylsden Little Theatre. But the talented team take on the task head on - determined to add a fresh flavour to a well-told tale. From the menacing calm of our narrator (a well-judged and measured performance from DLT newcomer Dean Wanless), it is clear the much-loved play is well worth a new telling.
The storm clouds of Thatcherite Britain hang ominously over the production, set in gloomy working class Liverpool.
While the thrust of the story is of two twins separated at birth, a deeper meaning of a nation split in two is carefully crafted. Success or failure, rags or riches, happiness or depression, the play tells us, is at the mercy of an unforgiving fate.
When the wealthy Mrs Lyons (Nicky Meads) plucks young Eddie Johnston from the pram of her cleaner Mrs Johnston (who strikes a deal to give away one of the twins she can ill afford), her decision gives one a life of comfort and condemns the other to suffering and squalor.
The young Micky (Matt Hepplestone, who shines in the role of a youngster, not for the first time) and Eddie Johnston (the quirky Bernie Culshaw, who ironically is the only actor without a Liverpool accent despite hailing from the city) are joined together by the dripping of blood in a juvenile ritual of blood brothers.
The importance of the sibling split is made starkly clear in the respective lives of the twins. While Eddie goes on to enjoy university life and own a factory, his twin brother must fight and scrape for every penny.
But the two share common interests, including the love of their friend Linda (Joanne Bell). Two lives cruelly divided at birth are destined to reunite - though yet again fate will have the final say.
Blood Brothers runs at Droylsden Little Theatre, Castle Close, until Saturday from 7.45pm. To book call (0161) 370 7713 between 7.30pm and 8.30pm
review by CHRIS MAXWELL
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