Blood Brothers Theatre Breaks in London

Blood Brothers Theatre Breaks in London London Theatre Breaks
Blood Brothers was at the Phoenix Theatre, London

London Theatre Breaks for Blood Brothers comes to an end!

One of the West End’s best loved and longest running musicals, Blood Brothers, has closed.

Check the Phoenix Theatre for what is now playing at this theatre.

OVER 10,000 WEST END PERFORMANCES

Bill Kenwright’s production of Willy Russell’s Liverpool tale of the Johnstone twins, who are separated at birth and later reunited by a twist of fate, will have played over 10,000 performances in London, making it the third longest running musical ever to play the West End.

Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is a tale of twins, separated at birth, who grow up as friends one rich, one poor: without knowing their family background. Told with gentleness, darkness and joy it is at one time hilarious at the next heartbreaking.

Few musicals have received such acclaim as Blood Brothers: scooping four awards for best musical and enjoying standing ovations at almost every performance over the past 12 years. Although its greatest strength is its Englishness it was nominated for 7 Tony awards.

A remarkable adult cast play the group of children who we watch grow, learn, love and fight.

Devasting. A masterpiece. If you haven’t seen it, go. If you have, go again!” – News of the World. “The greatest musical of the decade” – International Herald Tribune.

Book your Blood Brothers theatre break

Show File
Title: Blood Brothers
Genre: Musical – Show Songs: Blood Brothers Playlist
Theatre: Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Rd, WC2H OJP, London
Performance Times: Blood Brothers is no longer showing in London
Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Rd on the Northern Line and Central Line

Nearest London Hotels

The Phoenix Theatre is on Charing Cross Road. The 3 star St Giles is an excellent base for any London theatre break as it is just off Oxford Street, but it is also just a few minutes walk from the theatre. Do beware that there is a fair amount of road works going on around there (beginning of 2012) and whilst it doesn’t effect pedestrians too much it does make the usual simple stroll a little more challenging!

That is the only 3 star of note. The four star options include the Radisson Edwardian Kenilworth Road and Bloomsbury Street Hotels and the Bloomsbury Street is another hotel that has benefited from Olympic fever (when hotel owners become desparate to make their hotel the best it possibly can!) as it is now looking absolutely gorgeous!

There are alos a whole bunch of 4 star hotels just along the road around the British Museum… the standout choice for me being the Montagues on the Gardens (even though it is a little more expenise!

For a five star option I would go for the Courthouse along Oxford Street, just near Carnaby Street.

Looking further afield the Northern Line and Central Line give easy access to the hotels in the City, Bayswater, around Euston (handy if you have come from the North West) and the Southbank and Waterloo – handy if you have come from the south!

Blood Brothers
Average rating:  
 7 reviews
 by Christian Le Feuvre

“So, did you hear the story of the Johnstone twins?”
And what a story. As the haunting overture starts and the cast take their positions, the stage is set for an incredible emotional ride through the lives of Mickey and Eddie, twins separated at birth, brought up on opposite sides of the tracks, but who meet up and become the best of friends without knowing the truth, until the dramatic finale which brings about tragic consequences for all involved.
The musical Blood Brothers was written by Willy Russell, who was the genius behind Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, and ran in the West End for 24 years. Currently on tour around the UK, it still remains as popular as ever with well-deserved standing ovations at every performance. And it’s not difficult to see why.
The first act is brilliantly constructed as we are shown the desperation of Mrs Johnstone’s ‘deal’ with her wealthy employer, the childhoods of Mickey and Eddie along with Mickey’s wayward brother, and school friend Linda. There are some genuinely funny moments including Mickey’s ‘I’m Nearly Eight’ poem which breaks the fourth wall as it he directs it straight to the audience. It’s throughout the second half though that the tension really builds up as we see Mickey’s journey from carefree kid to a troubled young man dealing with unemployment, being sent to jail and addiction to anti-depressants.
Sean Jones (whom I have seen play Mickey now on numerous occasions), is in my opinion easily one of the best ‘Mickey’s as each performance is genuinely believable, and his ability to make us laugh as an eight year old boy and cry as the tortured young man, is truly outstanding.
The songs in the show are superb, but it’s the finale and the haunting ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’, that seriously packs a punch and has the audience reaching for their tissues.
This show is a definite ‘MUST SEE’, and as it continues its nationwide tour of the UK, I thoroughly recommend you get along to see it. I’ll be going again.
Blood Brothers remains my second favourite musical of all time.

 by Allison Cartwright

Here's my review of Blood Brothers which I saw in September 2011. I have always wanted to see the show and I thoroughly enjoyed it, the cast were brilliant the songs were catchy and the atmosphere was great as well. I went recently in my hometown to see it again but after seeing the musical version in London it was totally disappointing as there was no music to it. The one in London with the music was miles better.

 by Tricia Jenkins

My husband and I went to see - and enjoy - Blood Brothers a few years ago for the first time and of course we had to see it again. It is so well performed and holds your attention from the very beginning when you hear the story being told by a narrator with a great Liverpool accent. It's a real "down to earth" type musical with great songs which we play in the car on long journeys and enthusiastically join in. Thanks for Blood Brothers Willy.

 by Gemma Adams

Great show really emotional and well done. The setting was great and the characters were really believable. I would defiantly go and see this again.

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About Simon Harding

Simon Harding has grown up in and around London's Theatreland and has been working here ever since he left school: promoting its shows to anyone who will listen!

View all posts by Simon Harding

3 Comments on “Blood Brothers Theatre Breaks in London”

  1. Blood Brothers is another of my personal favourite shows still running in London’s West End. Written by Willy Russell – one of Britain’s greatest living playwrights – the story ranks alongside any of those from the many musicals taken from great literature, but with a script as equally good as the story-line.

    OK, this is all a bit high-minded when all you want is good evening’s entertainment and to come out whistling a tune or two and it delivers on this front too! The cast are wonderful and the denoument heart-stopping

    Proper theatre and a proper good time – a proper London theatre break!

  2. Please be advised that Marti Pellow will be indisposed from Blood Brothers for all performances for the period Tuesday 31.01.12 to Saturday 11.02.12 inclusively.

    Marti Pellows understudy, Craig Price, will play the part of Narrator for this period.

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