“SO DID Y’HEAR THE STORY OF THE JOHNSTONE TWINS?”
PRODUCTION PHOTOS
© Signature Times Photography
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
“Absolutely amazing! Every single cast member was fantastic. I laughed and almost cried. Bloody brilliant!”
“If you have a ticket for the SOLD OUT show tomorrow then you are in luck. If you haven’t and haven’t got one for Friday or Saturday yet, GET ONE! It was BRILLIANT! A nod to a few Frances Wood, Alex Smith, Joe Coulson, but in fact the whole cast was just fab! Bravo!”
“Absolutely Fabulous Show Tonight ! I’ve never seen it before and knew nothing about the story line , Everyone should be So proud of their Performance, outstanding and very very moving !! Well done !!!!”
“Just witnessed the BEST amateur play I’ve ever seen!!! Absolutely amazing!!!! If anyone’s got a free night this week get yourself down. I’m literally speechless!”
“Great performance! Well done Everyone! 👏👏👏”
“Fantastic performance tonight from all. And standing ovations at the end.”
“Really good show tonight thoroughly enjoyed it, well done everyone 👏👏”
“Brilliant performance from the laughs to the tears enjoyed it all good luck for the rest of the week.”
“It was flipping brilliant !! Well done to everyone 👏👏👏”
“Wow wow wow what a first class performance from the cast of blood brothers the play performed by dryburn theatrical workshop from the lows to the highs of emotions congratulations.”
“Thoroughly enjoyed the show last night. Professional and word perfect from what I saw. You could hear a pin drop at moments during the show and had you on the edge of your seats towards the end. Great cast. you’ve put together a fabulous show and they have done you proud.”
“Well done Dryburn on your production of Blood Brothers, a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Hope you have a good evening. If you’re goings to see it you’re in for a treat.”
“Dryburn Theatrical Workshop’s production of Blood Brothers (the play not the musical) was a tour de force tonight, with a well-deserved standing ovation to cap it all off. The small, but perfectly performed, cast definitely did justice to the raw, gritty power of Willy Russell’s original play.”
“Fantastic, they were brilliant.”
“Standing ovation from us. Every aspect was marvellous 💖”
“Wonderful performances from everyone! Very well done!”
“What. A. Show. I can’t even put into words. Everyone said I’d laugh and cry but I didn’t realise I’d laugh and cry that much. Absolutely amazing, there’s only Saturday night with free tickets, snap them up before you miss out because this is just a must see.”
“Thoroughly enjoyed watching Blood Brothers tonight fantastic production and performances. Well done to everyone from Dryburn Theatrical Workshop certainly a Show not to be missed.”
“Fantastic Show well done to everyone superb production and equally superb acting. A definite must see Show.”
“What a production! Magnificent in every way. The future of NE theatre is very bright indeed. Congratulations to everyone involved 💖”
“Absolutely bloomin amazing! Well done to everyone. So proud to call you friends.”
“Well done to all of you for a wonderful performance tonight. I laughed and cried and I felt pretty damn shell-shocked at the end. Fantastic.”
“Now I have eventually wiped the tears from my eyes I can put together how absolutely fantastic this show was tonight the cast were great and Joe Coulson you were perfect match to Alex’s Mickey. @alexpickering every time I think you couldn’t make me any prouder you pull another stormer out of the bag.”
“What an amazing show and I admit it, i was crying also well done Alex and all the cast and crew.”
“Would just like to congratulate everyone who was in this play I thoroughly enjoyed it ! The acting was outstanding I was glued !! Obviously cried at the end. The brothers just bounced off each other well suited fabulous acting and Kirsty May you were brilliant! Well done to everybody xx”
PROGRAMME
NODA REPORT
I have seen the musical version of Blood Brothers on many occasions; as a big fan I was looking forward to my first review of the play version performed by Dryburn Theatrical Workshop. The play recounts the story of fraternal twins Eddie and Mickey born into a working-class family and the dilemma when their mother makes one of the hardest decisions in her life and gives one of her twins away at birth. Following the separation, the boys are raised in totally different social environments, however life has a strange way of working out and the story shows how fate draws these two boys together with fatal consequences.
The story was wonderfully interpreted thanks to Michelle Coulson as Director, who put her heart and soul into this iconic classic story written by Willy Russell. Michelle’s direction ensured that she brought out the best from an extremely talented and well-rehearsed team of actors, each cast member demonstrated their enthusiasm and commitment and followed Michelle’s vision which resulted in a truly remarkable and funny interpretation of this unforgettable story, the talent and atmosphere on the performance I attended overflowed into the audience who were absolutely enthralled by the production and the quality of the acting.
A very clever set featuring a terraced street supported by a good range of props helped distinguish the different scenes of the story and well done to the stage crew under the stage manager Paul Scott who ensured that this was coordinated seamlessly. Lighting and sound were provided by Hi Lights which was to a high standard as was the costumes which were authentic to the era provided by Alan Graham Costumes. Music throughout the play was supplied by backing tracks apart from the opening number “Marilyn Monroe” which was played by Brian Pennick. A big thank you to the front of house team who as always ensures that the audience and myself were well taken care of.
The story of Blood Brothers is told through the narrator and Lee Passmoor grasped this role with confidence, he controlled the stage each time he appeared and delivered the story line with a convincing Liverpudlian accent which was maintained throughout, an excellent performance from Lee which he executed effortlessly. At the centre of the plot was Frances Wood as Mrs Johnston, a what a performance from this young actress, she utilised all her skills and talent to portray this down trodden character and her performance was so powerful; capturing and delivering all the emotions that this character was feeling; an excellent and stand out performance from this young lady. Joseph Coulson and Alex Pickering had the difficult role of playing the characters Eddie and Mickey, these two young men certainly had me and the audience in stiches excellent performance and entertaining and by means no mean feat to play characters from age 7 (almost 8) to adulthood but they accomplished this remarkably delivering a first class performance, their stage presence was outstanding, capturing the comic element and the drama of each scene effortlessly and their accents were on the nail, I loved the interaction with the other characters especially Linda played by Lucy McCabe who portrayed their lifelong friend and later Mickey’s wife, a well-polished performance lovely stage presence both as a child and later as an adult, and I loved her cameo role as Marilyn Monroe. Playing the role of Mrs Lyons was Kirsty May who delivered a master class of emotional turmoil, great acting ability especially when she started to loose grip of the situation and the truth became revelled an incredibly powerful performance.
There were various cameo roles that supported the principals all of whom delivered excellent performances and enabled the story to unfold; Chris Coates delivered a confident performance as the gynecologist, the milkman, factory worker and the Doctor, great stage presence and delivered each character uniquely. Pete Johnson delivered a striking policeman and factory worker, as did Karen Scott who delivered a confident performance as the housing officer and factory worker. Annette Morris wearing many wigs and disguises played the part of a child friend, housing officer and factory worker great supporting performance and finally Laura Masters who played a factory worker and ensemble in other scenes a thoroughly convincing performance.
This was a great production from start to finish congratulation to Dryburn Theatrical Workshop for delivering an outstanding, moving and emotional performance and a great evening of pure entertainment. Looking forward to seeing your next production of Aladdin in January 2020.
Author: Peter Oliver