Blood Brothers (Musical)

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Blood Brothers (Musical)

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  3w, 5m

Book, Music and Lyrics by Willy Russell

This powerful musical, by the author of Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, is a haunting rags-to-riches tragedy of our times. After a struggling mother surrenders one of her newborn twins to her childless employer, the brothers grow up streets apart, never learning the truth. In the end, however, the separation of twins commands a heavy price.

THIS TITLE IS NOT RELEASED FOR PERFORMANCE RIGHTS IN THE UK AND IRELAND.

If your performances are outside the UK/Ireland, please apply for a licence to check availabilty. (US/Canada performances would apply through our US website. Navigate there by selecting 'US' instead of 'UK' in the top right corner of this website.)

Blood Brothers (Musical)

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Six 1993 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book
    Winner! Two 1983 Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best Musical
Blood Brothers (Musical)

Details

Summary

"Tell me it's not true. Say it's just a story..."

Blood Brothers, by the author of Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, is a haunting rags-to-riches tragedy of our times. A woman with numerous children to support surrenders one of her newborn twins to her childless employer. The boys grow up streets apart, never learning the truth, but become firm friends and fall in love with the same girl. One prospers while the other falls on hard times. A narrator warns that the separation of twins commands a heavy price: the lives of the blood brothers, who die on the day they discover they are related.

THIS TITLE IS NOT RELEASED FOR PERFORMANCE RIGHTS IN THE UK AND IRELAND.

If your performances are outside the UK/Ireland, please apply for a licence to check availabilty. (US/Canada performances would apply through our US website. Navigate there by selecting 'US' instead of 'UK' in the top right corner of this website.)

History
Blood Brothers premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse in Liverpool, England in 1983. On 11 April 1983, the show opened in the West End at the Lyric Theatre. The Broadway production of Blood Brothers opened on 25 April 1993 at the Music Box Theatre, where it ran for over two years.
Performing Groups
  • Time Period 1980s, 1960s
  • Setting England. 1960-1980.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Gun Shots
    • Strong Language
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“A full-bodied musical, a wonderful melodrama that is also a thoroughly modern ballad opera.” – Wall Street Journal

“The most exciting thing to have happened to the English musical theatre for years.” – Punch

“There are so many good things to shout and sing about in this new musical.” – Daily Mail

“Deeply moving.” – London Broadcasting

“A genuine crowd pleaser...Blood Brothers remains a one-of-a-kind show...and no musical theater fan should fail to experience it.” – Theater Week

“Totally beguiling.” – City Limits

“For years we have...longed for a show in which words and music, characterization and songs are given equal weight... Blood Brothers is such an event.” – Time Out

“Blood Brothers sparkles on Broadway. Willy Russell has the gift for heartbreak... This musical's power to terrify, amuse and beguile gallops along... It is impossible to leave Blood Brothers unmoved. Even people who don't like musicals will love this work.” – Connecticut Post

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Top 15 Plays and Musicals About Siblings
Concord Theatricals
April 8, 2019

Videos

  • Blood Brothers TV Spot youtube thumbnail

    Blood Brothers TV Spot

  • Tour Press Launch youtube thumbnail

    Tour Press Launch

Music

Music Samples

  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Medium

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
    Performance rights for this title are currently withdrawn in the UK. To be informed as soon as it becomes available in the future, please submit a license application.

Music Rentals

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Authors

Willy Russell

Willy Russell

Willy Russell’s career spans more than four decades; born in Liverpool in 1947, he left school at 15 and became a women’s hairdresser and part-time singer/songwriter performing on the local folk scene before returning to education and becoming a teacher.

Whilst at St Katharine ...

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