PUBLISHED 12 September 2024
The Year 10 and 11 Drama GCSE classes, as well as some Year 9 Pupils, were given the opportunity on the 5th of September to go and see the musical ‘Blood Brothers’ at the Blackpool Winter Gardens, and it was incredible!
The story follows two twin brothers- unknowingly separated at birth, growing up in completely different social classes, they defied the odds and became best friends. Mickey, who stayed with his original family - The Johnstone’s - grew up poor with his seven siblings and single mother. Eddie, who was given away to the Lyons family, was given a life of pure luxury. The pair are separated multiple times but continue to find their way back to each other. They attend the same school, get married, have children, and overall continue to live their lives. That is until eventually things take a turn for the worse. But I won’t give away too much!
I personally loved the show, as I'm sure all my peers who also went to watch did. The emotions portrayed on stage translated insanely well to the entire audience, from laughter to tears, and the acting and singing was just so good.
I'm so glad that my Drama class was able to see this show just as we entered the GCSE course, as it’s allowed us a brilliant insight into the next two years and what we’ll need to know to hopefully get the best possible marks on our exams. We believe being able to go and watch Blood Brothers in the theatre gives us a head start on our revision for our Drama GCSE.
Some of my favourite parts of the show was the baby ‘handover’ at the beginning, with the songs ‘My Child’ and ‘Easy Terms’, and the utter power onstage during practically every moment during and onwards from the scene where Sammy ‘gives Mickey a job’ was insane. I also have a ‘soft spot’ for the ‘I Wish I Was Our Sammy’ monologue during the first act, as I performed it when I was just 9 years old and can still remember it to this day- I think it’s where I really found my love for drama. I also grew up with my family members playing Mrs. Johnstone multiple times and seeing them rehearse and perform particularly in this show was hugely inspiring for me and made me want to get on stage even from when I was just two or three years old - I owe so much to this show.
Blood Brothers shows us so much about the ‘real world’- not just in the 1960s-1980s period (roughly) when it was set, but even elements of the world today. We learn how nothing comes to you easily, and no matter what social class you come from, it’s how you choose to live and what you do that determines your experience in life. I absolutely adore the show!
I am so grateful for all of the opportunities that we’re given to visit the theatre with school, it's amazing to see live theatre with so many like-minded people and it’s always a really good time with some of my closest friends. It allows us to see all sorts of different acting styles and new places and people to be inspired by, and again it’s just always such a fun and memorable time- I’m so excited for the rest of the amazing drama trips planned for the rest of this year!
Other students commented:
‘Blood brothers was such a good play and to see it this early on before our GCSEs and from a professional cast was amazing to watch and great for our understanding of the show which we will need later on.’
- Finlay L, Year 10.
‘I loved seeing a piece of live theatre right at the beginning of the school year and it makes me excited for the upcoming theatre trips the Performing Arts Department has planned throughout the year.’
- Belle, Year 9.
The photograph shows our students at the theatre with Sean Jones who plays Mickey Johnson - he has been playing Mickey for 25 years!