From then on this became frequent. In the back of his mind he had always had the thought of writing a play. In 1972 'Blind Scouse' was premierd at the Endinbourgh Festival and later on he wrote many more which have become widley known such as 'Educating Rita' which was made into a film in 1981 starring Michael Cain and Julie Walters, 'Shirly Valentine' the screenplay written in 1990 starring Pauline Collins. 'Stags and Hens' which first premierd at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool in 1978 and then was transfered to a film 'Dancin Through the Dark' the screenplay was also written in 1990, and then finally of course, 'Blood Brothers' which was produced in 1983, it first opened in Liverpool but then transfered to London however it wasn't too successful and closed. Bill Kenwright opened a new production in 1988, along with the show opening on Broadway in 1993.
Willy Russell, as a child grew up with mostly women around him, his mother, grandmother and his aunts. This had a big influence on his work and writing about women, and class, such as Shirley Valentine, Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons and Rita in 'Educating Rita'.
Themes and Plot:
There are many themes used in 'Blood Brothers', the main ones being based on class and superstition. In the country, class effects how people are able to live their lives and the situations they are in. In 'Blood Brothers' Mrs Johnstone lives in a poor end of Liverpool, struggling to bring up eight children on her own and is forced to give one away to keep the others clothed and fed well enough, whereas Mrs Lyons, whom she works for, lives in a lrge house, very comfortably in a nice part of Liverpool, she wants children but is unable to have any, even though she is rich, unlike Mrs Johnstone. Love is a theme, shown by the two women who love their sons but show it in completly different ways. Along with superstition, this is is the basis of the whole story and is a theme that continues throughout the whole play, the consequences of most of the happenings can be traced back to superstition. It is also the reason for the tragic end of the play. There's also the theme of friendship, linked between Mickey, Eddie and Linda and how they are all friends, but it gradually brakes apart, Mickey and Linda's friendship developes into love, and Mickey and Eddie's friendship firstly breaks up when Eddie is forced to move away by his parents, then again later in the play when Mickey becomes depressed he begins to become jealous of Eddie, again leading up to the tragic consequences. Hate then becomes part of the play, as Mrs Lyons comes to despise Mrs Johnstone because of the situation both women are in with the twins. Mrs Johnstone is fullfilled with the theme of guilt through out most of the play because of giving her son Edward away to Mrs Lyons, but also Mrs Lyons feels guilt because she has lied to everyone about Edward being her own son, she lied to her husband, friends, family and even Edward himself. Mickey also becomes to feeling guilt because he is so depressed he cannot support himself or his family (Linda and their child) and he has to rely on Linda and Mrs Johnstone to actually support him.
Background of Blood Brothers:
Blood Brothers was first performed infront of students in secondary school in a suberb of Liverpool in 1982. In 1983 it moved to be performed on stage in Liverpool and then to London. Although it was not very successful in London, Bill Kenwright opened a production of the show in 1988 starring Barbara Dixon as Mrs Johnstone. (Soundtrack is available of this production - see merchandise page!) In 1991 the show then moved to the Phoenix Theatre where it still remains today doing an excellent run. In 1993 the show successfully went to Broadway, and in 1995 the first UK Tour started, and is still going (see the tour page for details on casts and venues).
