REVIEW: Blood Brothers triumphantly arrives in Sussex with a passionate and emotional show

Five minutes before the show was due to start at Eastbourne's Congress Theatre, I turned to my girlfriend and said 'I've seen this before, you'll probably be crying more than I am by the end'. I was chewing my words as the final curtain fell, my emotion clearly echoed by loud applause and a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience, an act which led to four bowing encores from the cast. This incredibly positive reception was for none other than Willy Russell's acclaimed musical 'Blood Brothers', the story of twin brothers separated at birth and brought up at opposite ends of the British class system in Liverpool. It is a play that is as timeless as ever and was given full justice in my opinion, performed superbly by an incredible cast. Lyn Paul was the standout as the leading lady of the show, Mrs Johnstone, the mother whose heartbreak at giving up one of her sons echoes through the performance. Having played the role multiple times since 1997, this tour is being billed as Paul's last, and she certainly made it count, with her final rendition of 'Tell Me It's Not True' bringing tears to this reviewer's eyes, as she showed that, after over 20 years, she could still hit those powerful notes. Other standouts of the show included Alexander Patmore as Mickey, who was able to seamlessly transition from a seven-year-old scruffy kid (which had us both in fits of laughter with his relentless hyperactivity), to a grown husband and father struggling to get through the day without the use of anti-depressants. The contrast between them was devastating to watch and his wife Linda, played by Danielle Corlass, did a similarly excellent job going from a flirty teenager to a despairing wife, longing for a way out. The songs (including other hits such as 'Marilyn Monroe' and 'Bright New Day') were all expertly sung, the set grimly depicted urban Liverpool accurately, and the lighting was successful at creating a constant dark mood, serving as a reminder in those lighter moments that this story has an unhappy ending. One particular thing which stood out to this reviewer was some of the symbolic imagery used through the show around society. The queue of factory workers on the firing line was particularly powerful as they were given their marching orders from a silent man in a suit, an image which is still as relevant today as it was in the 1980s. This was my third time seeing Blood Brothers, but that did not take away any of the emotion of this story for me. A must-see production - well done to all involved. Blood Brothers is on at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne until 14 December - tickets can be booked at www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01323 412000. More Radio is continuously dedicated to providing a quality news service on-air and online, reporting local stories that matter across Sussex. If you enjoyed reading this story, then check out our home page at moreradio.online where you can find the latest from the county, along with features and competitions from our presenters, as well as listening to the station live. You can also sign up to our news alerts to receive updates on new stories. Simply click on the bell at the bottom right of the home page. This will then allow a pop-up which will ask if you would like to receive alerts. Press ‘allow’ and you’re all signed up! You can also follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.