The international smash hit musical Blood Brothers comes to the Theatre Royal Bath from next Monday with West End star and multi-platinum selling artist Marti Pellow as the Narrator and Maureen Nolan as Mrs Johnstone.
Both of them reprise their West End roles having starred in the famous musical at London's Phoenix Theatre.
Hailed as one of the best musicals of all time, Willy Russell's Blood Brothers has triumphed across the globe, scooping up no less than four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway. This epic tale of Liverpool life ran in London's West End for 24 years, surpassing 10,000 performances, and has been touring the UK since 1995.
Set in Willy Russell's native Liverpool, Blood Brothers tells the compelling tale of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited, by a twist of fate and a mother's haunting secret. The memorable score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It's Not True.
When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet. It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins.
In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show's shattering climax.
Having worked closely with some of the world's most important musical composers including Sir Tim Rice and Leslie Bricusse, Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti has built a successful theatre career starring in the West End, on Broadway and on national tour in the hit musicals Chicago, Jekyll and Hyde and The Witches of Eastwick, and co-starring with Josh Groban in the television and film special, Chess in Concert. He also starred alongside Russell Brand and Miranda Hart in the television show The Abbey.
Maureen Nolan stars as Mrs Johnstone, a role she played in the West End at London's Phoenix Theatre for two years. Maureen is best known as one of The Nolans, performing from the age of nine alongside her sisters. Tickets are on 01225 448844 or online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk.
WIN TICKETS
We have two tickets to give away for Monday night's opening performance.
Just answer the following question, put your answer on a postcard with your name and telephone number and send it to Theatre Royal Box Competition, The Bath Chronicle, Westpoint, James Street West, Bath BA1 2DA. The first correct answer out of the hat on Monday morning will get the tickets for that night's show.
The question is: who wrote the Blood Brothers story?