Blood Brothers – Oxford Playhouse

Book, Music and Lyrics: Willy Russell

Directors: Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright

It is hard to believe that Blood Brothers is over forty years old. It has been a mainstay of both the West End and the touring circuit for so many years that it is hard to imagine our theatres without a regular visit from this now classic British musical.

Willy Russell created something very special when he wrote this Liverpudlian tragedy. With echoes of Greek Myth as well as more local superstitions, it is a story of two twin brothers separated at birth and how their lives differ and intertwine against the backdrop of life in northern England through the second half of the twentieth century. It is a show that still packs a huge emotional punch as well as having some very deft writing to condense more than 25 years into two and a half hours in the theatre.

There is absolutely no doubting the commitment and talent of the cast in this production. Vivienne Carlyle leads as Mrs Johnstone with passion and compassion as well as strong vocals. She is the beating heart of the show and it is a performance equal to any of her predecessors in the part.

As the twins, Sean Jones (Mickey) and Joe Sleight (Eddie), have good chemistry and energy, but their obvious age difference does make it harder than it needs to be to suspend the necessary disbelief. They inhabit their roles well and their ultimate fate is guaranteed to bring tears to even the most hard-hearted of audience members.

Rounding out the central characters, Tricia Adele-Turner captures Mrs Lyons’ fragility and determination to perfection, and Kristofer Harding has the right sinister presence to convince as the Narrator.

The rest of the cast deliver their many characters well, with some lightning-fast costume changes all executed perfectly. It is a slick production that deserves the enthusiastic reception it gets from the audience.

For all the professionalism on display in Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright’s direction, this production is now showing its age. The set, whilst perfectly serviceable, has seen better days and some of the details should be crisper. And overall, it feels very familiar and lived in. And even though the ending still delivers exactly what Russell intended, it is now time to pass the baton on to a new creative team who can take on this piece and give it the refresh it deserves.

None of this takes away from this tour still being an entertaining and moving production of a modern classic. It is easy to understand why schools teach Blood Brothers to their students. And audiences are still loving the story of the Johnstone Twins.

Runs until 26 September 2026 and on tour