By Willy Russell

Our first play after the pandemic turned out to be the last play before the pandemic, the evergreen Blood Brothers. We thought that there was a new opportunity to take this production, with some slight amendments, to a new venue. So the Dolman Theatre in Newport echoed with Liverpudlian accents for a week in June 2023.

Shane resurrected his production from 2018, this time with only one cast member returning and the addition of an audio visual narrative which worked very well in this larger venue.

Paula was our Narrator this time, perfectly moving the action along as we revisited the Johnston twins and their mothers. Helen was back on stage in her first play since Lend Me  A Tenor and relished getting her teeth into the role of Mrs Johnston. Cat Rose reprised her role as Mrs Lyons, the complex character who brings up Eddie as her own, perfectly capturing the nuances of the part. Newcomers to Concept Ben and Rhydian played Mickey and Eddie respectively. Each seemed to relish the early play as children and the build up in tension as they became disillusioned adults. Kate was our Linda, who was last seen as Red in Into The Woods, and she too made the part her own as the drama unfolded.

The set was as before, simple flats covered in chalk paint which were scribbled on as the action developed. Shane's eye for detail gave us a complex set of video montages with appropriate music of the period which played before, between and after scenes. An aspect for which we had some lovely audience feedback as they remembered the personalities, news items, music and long forgotten adverts of yesteryear. A big shout out to Ellie and Ffion Morgan for their technical skills in the music, sound and backstage departments and to Laura for sound effects and Paul for costume.

Well attended this was an excellent start for us in bringing plays to Newport where there is a long tradition of excellence in productions at the Dolman and it was nice to be able to contribute to that.