Blood Brothers at the Assembly Hall Theatre Review
Blood Brothers
Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
26-31 January 2015
Reviewed by Amanda Hayes
Although this show has been running for more than 20 years I had never actually seen it so I was looking forward to seeing it, especially as Marti Pellow is the narrator and I was a big fan back in my youth. After arriving at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, parking easily and cheaply next door, I picked up the tickets from the courteous staff and found my seat in the stalls. There was a real feeling of anticipation in the packed Assembly Hall and as the curtain rose to the sombre scene of the death of two men you were immediately sucked straight into the gripping story.
The play is set in Liverpool in the 1950’s and tells the story of two twins separated at birth, brought up very differently, not knowing the other twin is alive. The boy’s mother, Mrs Johnston, is played by Maureen Nolan and what a fantastic job she does of it. Her singing voice is superb as you would expect and her character is totally believable. Mrs Johnston is married at the beginning of the show but 7 children later her husband leaves her for a younger woman. He leaves her pregnant with twins and struggling to care for them.
After the bills keep coming in and furniture keeps getting repossessed she gets a job cleaning for a local well to do woman, Mrs Lyons, who is desperate for a child of her own. Mrs Lyons offers to bring up one of the twins as her own and against her better judgement Mrs Johnston agrees and on the birth of her sons hands one over to Mrs Lyons.
The boy’s lives then set off on completely different paths with Edward being sent off to private school and Mickey getting into plenty of trouble at the local comp. The boys then meet by chance when they are 7 years old. On realising that their birthdays are the same date they agree to be best friends and swear to be blood brothers. Mickey and Edward are played by adults but are fantastically realistic as children from playing at being cowboys to keeping the local policeman some cheek. The scenes are hilarious and although they have dark undertones they keep the audience laughing and entertained throughout.
When the parents find out the boys are once again separated until they meet again age 14 in a more emotional second half which ultimately ends in tragedy and takes you right back to the opening scene. What causes the deaths is for you to find out but rest assured you will be on the edge of your seat and have tears in your eyes. The story is so captivating and emotionally told both by the on stage actors and the excellent Marti Pellow who narrates throughout. Every member of the cast is superb and totally in character.
Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall has excellent access for the less mobile and plenty of places to sit prior to the show and during the interval which makes it a really pleasant theatre to visit. That combined with parking being only £1.00 per night makes any show here a pleasure.
Blood Brothers is one of the best shows I have seen for a long time and I would not hesitate to go and see it again.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £17.50 to £31.50 (plus £1.25 booking fee).
Blood Brothers is at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells until 31 January 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 01892 530613.
Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Rd, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2LU | 01892 530613
