UK Tour of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers

SPRING 2026 TOUR CAST

Vivienne Carlyle will continue as Mrs. Johnstone having gained widespread critical acclaim and nightly standing ovations on the show’s most recent tours.

Richard Munday rejoins Blood Brothers as the Narrator, at certain venues, after playing the role on the 2022–2023 UK tour. He will share the part with Kristofer Harding, a role he first played in 2016 and returned to in the most recent 2025 tour.

Fresh from alternating the role of Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria) and covering Norma Desmond in Jamie Lloyd’s production of Sunset Boulevard (Savoy), Laura Harrison returns to Blood Brothers. Harrison previously played Donna Marie in the 2015 tour and is now taking on the role of Mrs Lyons.

Sean Jones and Joe Sleight will also be returning as the twin brothers, Mickey and Eddie and Gemma Brodrick will continue to play Linda.

Also reprising their roles are: Michael Gillett (Sammy), Tim Churchill (Mr Lyons), Francesca Benton-Stace(Donna Marie/Miss Jones), Latesha Karisa (Brenda), Danny Knott (Perkins), Dominic Gore (Neighbour), Alex Harland(Policeman/Teacher), Graeme Kinniburgh (Postman/Bus Conductor)

IRELAND TOUR CAST

For performances in Derry and Dublin, Mrs Johnstone will be played by Ireland’s own musical theatre legend, Rebecca Storm.

Rebecca is thrilled to return to a role she has truly made her own and join the Blood Brothers company for a limited run at the Millenium Forum followed by the Bord Gais Energy Theatre.

Casting for Autumn 2026 and Spring 2027, along with further dates and venues, to be announced. 

THE STORY

This epic 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.

Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving 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 brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax.

 

BLOOD BROTHERS REVIEW, RICHMOND THEATRE (MAY 2026) ★★★★★

CREATIVE TEAM

Written by Willy Russell
Directed by Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright
Resident Director Tim Churchill
Music Supervisor Matt Malone
Sound by Dan Samson
Set & Costumes by Andy Walmsley
Lighting by Nick Richings

WILL RUSSELL

Willy Russell is one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Educating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two-year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti. The production made a triumphant return to the West End in 2023 with Sheridan Smith.

Spring 2026 Tour Dates

Bromley Churchill Theatre
Wed 14 – Sat 17 Jan

Crewe Lyceum Theatre
Tues 20 – Sat 24 Jan

Coventry Belgrade Theatre
Tues 27 – Sat 31 Jan

Guildford Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Tues 3 – 7 Feb

Brighton Theatre Royal
Tues 10 – Sat 14 Feb

Derry Millennium Forum
Tues 17 – 21 Feb

Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre
Tues 24 Feb – 7 Mar

Sunderland Empire Theatre
Tues 17 – Sat 21 Mar

Wellingborough Castle Theatre
Tues 24 – 28 Mar

Hull New Theatre
Tues 31 Mar – Sat 4 Apr

Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
Tues 14 – Sat 18 Apr

High Wycombe Wycombe Swan
Tues 21 – Sat 25 Apr

Bradford Alhambra Theatre
Tues 28 – Sat 2 May

Hertford Beam
Tues 5 – 9 May

London Richmond Theatre
Tues 12- Sat 16 May

Lichfield Garrick Theatre
Tues 19- Sat 23 May

Autumn 2026 Tour Dates

8 – 12 Sep
WESTON-SUPER-MARE The Playhouse

15 – 19 Sep
CAMBRIDGE The Arts Theatre

22 – 26 Sep
OXFORD Playhouse

29 Sep – 3 Oct
CHELMSFORD Chelmsford Theatre

6 – 10 Oct
GRIMSBY Grimsby Auditorium

13 – 17 Oct
CHESTER Storyhouse Theatre

20 – 24 Oct
BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome

27 – 31 Oct
LEICESTER Curve

10 – 14 Nov
CRAWLEY The Hawth

17 – 21 Nov
MALVERN Malvern Theatre

24 – 28 Nov
NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate

Spring 2027 Tour Dates

12 -16 Jan
SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion

19 -23 Jan
SOUTHAMPTON Mayflower

26 – 30 Jan
DARTFORD Orchard Theatre

2 – 6 Feb
SHEFFIELD Lyceum

9 – 13 Feb
NEW BRIGHTON Floral Pavilion

16 – 20 Feb
CARDIFF Wales Millennium Centre

23 – 27 Feb
EASTBOURNE Congress Theatre

9 – 13 Mar
BLACKPOOL Winter Gardens

16 – 20 Mar
NORWICH Theatre Royal

23 – 27 Mar
BILLINGHAM Forum Theatre

11 – 15 May
LEEDS Grand Theatre

more news