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Having seen the original musical a few years ago - and more recently running the wings for an amateur production of the original play - it was brilliant to catch up with this fantastic show. Maureen Nolan currently has the role of the formidable matriarch Mrs Johnstone, and around her the story revolves at a cracking pace, helped by some stirring music, dramatic lighting and a multi-talented ensemble that play a number of the smaller parts.

Stand-Out Performance by Stephen Palfreman

The current cast also includes Philip Stewart as The Narrator, Stephen Palfreman (pictured above with Melanie C) as Mickey and Vivienne Carlyle as Mrs Lyons. Stephen Palfreman’s performance was the stand-out one for me - one moment the tearaway seven year old getting into all sorts of hilarious scrapes, before later switching to a brooding man who is struggling to keep his job and his mind as the social problems of the area come home to roost. Vivienne Carlyle was excellent as the highly-strung Mrs Lyons, whilst Louise Clayton was fantastic as the tom-boy, and later Mickey’s suffering wife, Linda. The last word goes to Maureen Nolan who has a strong singing voice and clearly put a lot of emotion into her performance as Mrs Johnstone.

Blood Brothers - A Night Out to Remember

As the credit crunch continues to bite, Blood Brothers has lost none of its emotional power and social importance in 2010. From the light-hearted scenes of Act One to the dark twists and turns in Act Two, the brilliant acting, dramatic staging and excellent songs continue to make the show a night out to remember. With former Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton taking over the role of Mrs Johnstone in the New Year, the musical looks set to continue its incredible success for some time to come. This is one show I’ll definitely be watching again!