Oxford Playscripts: Blood Brothers

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His twin brother, Edward, however is brought up as the only child of the wealthy Lyons family, who live nearby, after Mrs Lyons persuaded Mrs Johnstone to hand over one of her twins at birth.

The revival of Blood Brothers on the West End ran for twenty-four years, making it the third-longest running musical in the history of the UK.

The inaugural Australian production of Blood Brothers premiered August 1988 at the York Theatre in Sydney where it ran for three months: the cast included Chrissy Amphlett as Mrs Johnstone, Bob Baines as the Narrator, Zoe Carides as Linda, Peter Cousens as Edward and Russell Crowe as Mickey. The Broadway production of Blood Brothers opened on 25 April 1993 at the Music Box Theatre, where it ran for over two years. Edward 'Eddie' Lyons, Mickey's twin brother who was given away by Mrs Johnstone, and brought up by Mrs Lyons; he becomes blood brothers with Mickey (his actual brother).

He then wrote a score and developed the musical for a production at the Liverpool Playhouse, opening on 8 January 1983, starring Barbara Dickson (Mrs. The boys grow up streets apart, never learning the truth, but become firm friends and fall in love with the same girl. In 2012, a version of the play traveled to South Africa, and many of the main parts were played by black actors. The music was in fact composed by playwright Willy Russell, who also wrote the story of Blood Brothers, as well as other plays including Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Distraught over Eddie and Linda's 'affair,' Mickey grabs the gun that Sammy hid before he got arrested and storms down to the council offices to confront Eddie ("Madman"), who is giving a speech as Mickey storms in with the gun.

Secretly, he is revealing his true feelings but has not acted on them out of respect for Mickey ("I'm Not Saying A Word").

Mickey is persuaded to assist his brother Sammy, who now engages in criminal acts, in a robbery, to earn money to support Linda and their baby daughter Sarah. Clark and the Cassidys also recorded the international cast album, with the musical's playwright, Willy Russell as the Narrator.Johnstone ("Shoes Upon The Table (Reprise)") as Mickey asks his mother for money to see a film while reintroducing Eddie. Russell has continued writing since that time, and has even expanded his range to include novels and albums. The Narrator introduces the “story of the Johnstone twins” to the audience and the play then flashes back to the late 1950s. After learning that they share the same birthday, the two boys make a pact to become blood brothers, with Mickey nicknaming Edward "Eddie. While talking with Mrs Lyons, she mentions she's found out she's carrying twins, but can only afford to raise one more child.