Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers is a musical drama about twin brothers separated at birth—one raised in poverty, one in wealth. Their paths cross throughout their lives, leading to a tragic ending that explores themes of class, fate, and social inequality.

• 1Mrs. Johnstone, unable to afford twins, gives one baby to the wealthy Mrs. Lyons
• 2The boys, Mickey and Edward, meet as children and become best friends without knowing they're brothers
• 3Mrs. Lyons becomes paranoid and moves away with Edward to separate them
• 4Years later, the boys reunite as teenagers and both fall in love with Linda
• 5Mickey marries Linda but loses his job, turning to crime with his brother Sammy
• 6Edward becomes a councillor and has an affair with Linda; Mickey discovers this and shoots Edward, leading to both brothers' deaths

• •Social class and inequality
• •Fate versus free will (superstition)
• •Nature versus nurture
• •The loss of childhood innocence
• •Friendship and loyalty
• •The impact of poverty and unemployment

• Mrs. Johnstone: The biological mother who gives away one son out of desperation
• Mickey: The twin raised in poverty who struggles with unemployment
• Edward: The twin raised wealthy who becomes a councillor
• Mrs. Lyons: The adoptive mother who becomes increasingly paranoid
• Linda: The girl both brothers love
• The Narrator: A mysterious figure who comments on fate

• Written by Willy Russell in 1981, set in Liverpool
• Reflects 1980s Britain: unemployment, Thatcher's policies, and class divide
• Liverpool suffered significant economic decline in the 1980s
• Explores how socioeconomic background shapes life outcomes
• The musical format emphasizes the emotional and tragic elements

• Analyze how Russell presents social class through the twins' different lives
• Examine the role of superstition and fate in the play
• Discuss how nature versus nurture is explored through Mickey and Edward
• Consider Russell's use of dramatic irony and the Narrator
• Explore how the play critiques social inequality in 1980s Britain