Ahead of Blood Brothers returning to the UK this August, I couldn’t resist revisiting the Manchester run I saw in November 2024. It’s a show that’s stayed with me ever since.
The room darkens, and suddenly you’re on a dark street in Liverpool. Pain and grief pour from the performers in a way that feels strikingly raw and real, pulling you into their world. Two bodies lie in front of you, shadowed by fate and secrets.
The drama and tension immediately gripped me in that moment. My mind raced with questions: What just happened? Where will the story go next? This isn’t what I expected from the show I signed up for.
If you’re like me and haven’t experienced Blood Brothers before, that opening scene alone will leave you hooked. I was captivated, and admittedly, a little disoriented. But what unfolded was a production like no other, filled with talent and acting of the highest standard. It’s a show that lingers with you long after the curtain falls.
A story of fate and family
Written by Willy Russell and originally produced for the West End by the late Bill Kenwright, Blood Brothers tells the story of twin brothers, Mickey (Sean Jones) and Eddie (Joe Sleight), who are separated at birth and raised in dramatically different circumstances in Liverpool. Spanning the 1950s to the 1970s, we follow Mickey as he grows up in poverty and Eddie in privilege. Their lives intertwine when they meet by chance as children and become close friends, unaware of their true relationship. But as they grow older, class divides and a mother’s fear (Sarah Jane Buckley as the controlling Mrs Lyons) pull them apart, leading to a tragic and unforgettable ending.
Sean Jones as Mickey
If you see Blood Brothers for one reason, let it be Sean Jones’s portrayal of Mickey. This isn’t just great acting, it’s a masterclass in character work. Within minutes, you’re no longer watching a grown man pretending to be a child – you’re watching Mickey himself, full of vulnerability, mischief, and heart. That transformation is nothing short of magical.
I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to witness such extraordinary talent up close. Sean Jones has played Mickey on and off for over 20 years, both in the West End and on tour, and every ounce of that experience comes through. His physicality, voice, and mannerisms are so convincing that Mickey feels entirely real.
The depth he brings to the role is remarkable. He captures Mickey’s innocence so tenderly that you can’t help but feel the full weight of the life he’s born into. It’s a performance that reminds you why live theatre exists – it makes you feel something deeply human.
But it’s not just the child version of Mickey that stands out. It’s the raw, gut-punching realism of a man breaking under relentless hardship. As Mickey’s life unravels, through poverty, addiction, depression, and disability, Jones doesn’t just play it – he completely loses himself in the role. His physical decline is haunting to watch. From slouched posture and dragging steps to subtle dribbling and distant, vacant stares. It’s like witnessing someone slowly disappear.
Even with the humour and charm woven through the show, it goes to some dark places, and there’s no one better than Jones to lead you there. I honestly don’t know how he does it. His performance is, without question, sensational.
Vivienne Carlyle as Mrs Johnstone
While Jones captivates with his portrayal of Mickey, it’s Vivienne Carlyle’s Mrs. Johnstone who provides the emotional core that drives the story. Her performance is raw, vulnerable, and deeply moving. You don’t just see her love for her children, you feel it. Her struggles and impossible choices are portrayed with such authenticity that you can’t help but empathise with her pain and desperation to create a better life for her family.
Carlyle’s portrayal doesn’t simply depict a mother’s love; it makes you experience it. Her suffering becomes your own. Her difficult decisions, though heartbreaking, feel entirely understandable. It’s a performance that lingers with you long after the show ends.
The power of simplicity
One of the production’s strengths is the simplicity of its set design. It refuses to compete with the performances. The staging is clean, purposeful, and free from unnecessary flourishes. Instead of overwhelming you with spectacle, the design creates space for the actors to do what they do best.
The simplicity is perfect for a production like Blood Brothers. It clearly establishes the time and place without distraction, allowing the emotional weight of the story to rely entirely on the cast and narrator. Blood Brothers is powerful enough and doesn’t need elaborate effects for it to work. It doesn’t matter if you were watching the performance in a small, community theatre or a grand venue on the UK tour – the power lies in the storytelling itself and the remarkable skill of those telling it.
A production that makes you think
The beauty of Blood Brothers lies in its ability to hold a mirror up to society while telling a deeply human story. Its take on class division doesn’t come across as a lecture, but an exploration of how our circumstances shape who we become.
Joe Sleight captures Eddie’s innocence and naivety with real sensitivity. He perfectly embodies the bubble of privilege Eddie grows up in, showing how the pretentious nature of his adopted parents shields him from life’s tougher edges.
What makes the characters so powerful is how real they feel. You don’t see them as fictional, you recognise them. Their flaws, choices, and struggles all feel honest and painfully relatable. It’s not a neat depiction of social inequality – it’s genuinely complicated and emotional, just like real life. The production and plot as a whole push you to reflect on your own assumptions of others, have greater sympathy, and consider the unseen forces that shape people’s lives.
Blood Brothers doesn’t just tell a story. It stays with you, makes you think, and transforms your perspective on the world.
An ending to remember
You’re aware that Blood Brothers is building towards the dramatic tragedy that you experience in the opening scene, but nothing quite prepares you for how it unfolds. Those final moments hit me with a devastating force as I reflected on the question that haunted me throughout the show: “What if things were different?”
The mountain tension comes to a shocking end. It’s not the ending you want, but the ending you need. You know something terrible is inevitable, but it still leaves you gasping, and strangely heartbroken.
The powerful writing, direction, and performances are strong enough that even spoilers can’t diminish the impact.
Final thoughts
Sean Jones’s Mickey alone is worth the price of admission, but the entire production creates an experience that will stay with you long after you leave the theatre. It’s emotionally raw, brilliantly acted, and absolutely unforgettable.
Find all information regarding dates and cast on the official Blood Brothers UK Tour page.
