West End phenomenon Blood Brothers has arrived in Norwich on its latest UK tour and it will make you laugh and cry - sometimes at the same time.
Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright, with the book, music and lyrics by acclaimed playwright Willy Russell, the hit musical tells a tale of nature versus nurture.
Set from the 1950s to the 80s in Liverpool, it follows twins Mickey (Sean Jones) and Eddie (Joe Sleight) who are separated at birth but in a twist of fate find themselves meeting again as children.
Mickey (Sean Jones) and Joe Sleight (Eddie) agree to be Blood Brothers (Image: Jack Merriman)
After discovering that they share a birthday, without knowing each other's true identities, the pair agree to be lifelong 'Blood Brothers'.
Before they were born, matriarch Mrs Johnstone (Niki Colwell Evans) had a house full of children but struggled to make ends meet.
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When she found out she was expecting twins she reluctantly agreed to give Eddie to her employer - the wealthy Mrs Lyons (Paula Tappenden) who had struggled to conceive.
Niki Colwell Evans as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers (Image: Mayflower Theatre)
There is a strong theme throughout of the class divide and Mrs Johnstone's financial struggles feel just as poignant today amid the cost of living crisis.
This was my third time seeing Blood Brothers and Colwell Evans, who you may recognise from The X Factor, is my favourite Mrs Johnstone.
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She played the role with strength and grit, yet vulnerability too which is vital so the audience empathises with the character.
Her vocals were stunning as she belted out the likes of Tell Me It's Not True and Easy Terms.
Blood Brothers runs at Norwich Theatre Royal until Saturday (Image: Blood Brothers)
The Narrator (Danny Whitehead), who foreshadows the dark events at the end of the show, was also wonderfully haunting.
As well as lots of drama, including loud bangs that shocked Blood Brothers first-timers, there were plenty of funny moments too.
Jones delivered Mickey's 'I wish I was our Sammy' monologue with perfect comic timing as he complained about not being taken seriously aged seven (but nearly eight).
Blood Brothers is truly a masterpiece and every audience member leaped to their feet to applaud at the end.
Blood Brothers runs in Norwich until July 1.
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