A smash hit musical which tells the tragic story of twins separated at birth is returning to Brighton this autumn.

Bill Kenwright's award-winning production of Blood Brothers will play at the Theatre Royal Brighton from Tuesday, October 3 to Saturday, October 7.

Blood Brothers tells the tale of twins separated at birth who grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks only to meet again with tragic consequences. 

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 world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again - this time with twins.

She enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show's shattering climax.

The tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. The musical has since triumphed across the globe, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, and scooping up four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway. 

The Argus: Sean Jones as Mickey (left), Joe Sleight as Eddie (right)Sean Jones as Mickey (left), Joe Sleight as Eddie (right) (Image: Jack Merriman)

Niki Colwell Evans and Sean Jones will continue to play the roles of Mrs Johnstone and Mickey Johnstone respectively, with Gemma Brodrick stepping into the role of Linda, the “role of a lifetime” for the actress who has been a part of the production since she began in 2019.

Evans first rose to fame in 2007 when she reached the semi-final of series 4 of The X Factor UK mentored by Louis Walsh.

After her debut solo single Love Me No More in 2008, she went on to play the role Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre between 2008-2009 and in 2010 where she received rave reviews from critics.

Following on from this she performed in an array of productions including Kinky Boots and Legally Blonde.

Jones’ other stage credits include Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Snow White, Macbeth and Jacqueline’s Wilson’s world premiere of Wave Me Goodbye (Theatr Clwyd). TV credits include Emmerdale, The Royal Today, and Hollyoaks.

The production has been written by playwright Willy Russell, whose countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine.

Tickets are on sale at ATGTickets.com/Brighton.