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Blood Brother Programme Notes
Welcome to this afternoon’s audio-described performance of Blood Brothers, at the Grand Opera House. The show is 2 hours 45minutes long with one interval. The show will be described by Cara and Noirin.
Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.
Characters and Costumes
It is worth noting that while we meet the twins at different stages of their lives across 20 or so years, each twin is played by one actor throughout, so the twins at 7 are played by the same actors as they grow up, at age 16 and so on. Also, the musical has a large cast with an ensemble who play several different characters.
There are several costume changes throughout the musical, and these can help locate a scene in time, for example, a teddy-boy outfit sets it in the sixties, a donkey jacket in the eighties.Also, costumes are used to convey social status, Mrs. Johnstone’s various housecoats, pinnies and aprons contrast with Mrs. Lyon’s fitted and tailored dresses and suits. Mickey’s scruffyoutfit of hand-me-downs contrasts with Eddie’s neat and tidy school uniform.
Mrs Johnstone is played by Vivienne Carlyle, she is a woman of medium height and build with long blonde wavy hair which she wears tied back she has an oval face with distinct cheekbones and wide set eyes, there are lines around her mouth and eyes.
When we see her first, she is wearing a long grey blue patterned overcoat with navy trim pockets and as the scene changes, she removes her coat to reveal a flowing three-quarter length floral skirt, with a dark belt and pale blue short-sleeved blouse and black court shoes with low heels. When we see her next, she is putting on a floral sleeveless housecoat which has deep pockets, tying it to the side. Throughout the play she will wear several different housecoats or aprons over her clothes. She also wears a long grey woolen coat. When she goes to work for Mrs. Lyons, she wears the floral blue housecoat. Later, she comes to her doorstep wearing a loose house coat over her blouse and skirt.
At the start of Act 2 she wears a blue cardigan with sleeves rolled up to her elbows, a blouse and a belted skirt which is floral, loose and swings just below her knees. On occasion she wears a heavy grey overcoat, and other than at the wedding, when she wears a red suit, she wears a cardigan, apron or housecoat over her clothes when we see her. Finally, she wears a brown blouse and skirt.
Mrs Lyons, played by Paula Tappenden is of tall build, she has a round face with high cheek bones, an small, upturned nose and deep-set eyes. She has long blonde length hair which is loose, and she wears an Alice band and pearl earrings. When we first meet her, she wears a blue suit with jacket and skirt and a pink blouse. When we next see her, she is in a navy dress with small white polka dots, and black low-heeled court shoes, then a blue dress with chiffon sleeves and shoes with a cross strap at the front . When we meet her next, she wears a cream pea-coat and black shoes. After this, she wears a brown suede coat with wide trimmed lapels and pockets, grey trousers and a white top with a long flowing white patterned scarf. When we meet her in Act2, she wears an ivory-colored two-piece suit with a skirt just above her knees and the jacket with three quarter length sleeves. Later she wears a brown-colored coat dress, then a pale blouse and pleated checked skirt with a cream trenchcoat, and later with a head scarf.
Mickeys clothes always seem to swamp him. When we first meet Mickey, played by Sean Jones, he is wearing scruffy knee-length shorts, a large green pullover tank-top which is too big and has holes, over a brown short-sleeved t-shirt. He has baggy grey socks and brown canvas trainers. He is also covered in mud. At the beginning of Act 2 he wears a loose-fitting black blazer, a white shirt, black tie, blue jeans and white trainers. Later, he wears a denim shirt and a denim jacket, then a green parka, then a donkey jacket. Later again he wears a brown cardigan, then navy overalls and boots. The actor who plays Mickey is well-built and stocky with an oval face and brown hair, with short sides and spiky on top.
In contrast to Mickey, when we first meet Eddie, played by Joe Sleight, his hair is neat and tidy and he is wearing a well-fitting grey school uniform comprising short sleeved shirt, tie, tank top, knee-length shorts, grey socks with a red trim pulled up to the knees and polished black, leather lace-up shoes. As an older boy he wears a double-breasted blazer with a shirt and tie, and grey trousers. Later he wears cricket whites with pads, then light brown trousers with a cream jacket and shirt with a light red striped tie. When Mickey wears a green parka, Eddie wears a black overcoat. After this he wears a brown duffle coat and a woolen college scarf, and then a tan trench-coat and suit. Eddie is of a slimmer build than Micky, with soft features and pale skin, and fair hair which is short ,straight and tidy with a side parting.
When we first meet Linda, played by Gemma Brodrick, she has her long brown hair held up in two pigtails with red ribbons and wears a red cardigan over a short yellow dress. As ateenage schoolgirl she wears her hair in a high ponytail, a tight-fitting buttoned school blazer over a shirt and tie with a very short, very tight grey skirt and a small shoulder bag. Later she wears a blue miniskirt and red jacket and shoes with heels. At 18 she wears a blue floral knee-length dress with a white cardigan, and her hair hangs straight. We see her then in a white wedding dress with a net veil. Later her hair is in a low ponytail, and she wears blue jeans, a blue shirt, and a dark belted trench coat. Linda is slim with long legs, large eyes and an oval face.
When we first meet Mr Lyons, played by Tim Churchill, he is wearing a navy waistcoatbuttoned up and has his shirtsleeves rolled down, then we see him with his jacket on completing the three-piece pin stripe suit. Later he wears a blue cardigan and then a dark overcoat. He also wears a brown sheepskin coat.
Donna-Marie, played by Francesca Benton-Stace wears a green jumper and red tartan short skirt, white ankle socks, white plimsolls and her hair in two plaits. Later we see her in a pale pink maternity smock with a white collar and her hair in a ponytail.
As a young boy Sammy, played by Daniel Taylor, wears navy shorts and a blue T-shirt with baggy socks and converse trainers, like Mickey, he is covered in mud. Teenage Sammy wears a black leather biker jacket zipped up and collar upturned, with Status Quo printed on the back. His blue jeans are rolled up at the ankle over black DM boots. Later he wears a trench coat over a grey suit and tie.
The Narrator, played by Kristofer Harding, is a significant role. He is of medium height and build, with thick reddish brown hair. He has an oval face. He wears a black suit with a white shirt and narrow black tie.
Several parts are played by Alex Harland (as Policeman/Teacher), Graeme Kinniburgh (as Postman/Bus Conductor), Latesha Karisa (as Brenda), Michael Gillett (as Sammy), Danny Knott (as Perkins) , Dominic Gore (as Neighbour), and Francesca Benton-Stace as Donna Marie and Miss Jones.
They wear a variety of costumes for different characters –
For Mrs Johnstone’s husband the actor wears a bright blue teddy-boy jacket, a red shirt, black tight trousers, red socks and brothel creeper shoes.
At the wedding do, the men wear dark suits, and the priest is in long white religious robes with red edging and embroidery.
The milkman wears a white cap, a white coat, red apron.
Mrs. Johnstone’s neighbours wear housecoats and scarves over their hair.
The gynecologist wears a white coat and a stethoscope.
The nurses wear blue nurses’ pinafores with white aprons, white caps and dark tights.
The debt collectors wear coats and Trilby hats.
The group of children wear shorts and t-shirts, canvas trainers or plimsolls, one wears a cowboy hat and waistcoat, another a black open-faced balaclava, another has a pot tied to his head.
The policeman wears a policeman’s uniform and helmet.
The judge wears a grey curly wig and red robes.
The bus driver and conductor wear green caps and green jackets.
Eddie’s schoolmaster wears a brown suit and black academic cloak, he wears glasses and has slicked back hair, the same actor becomes Mickey’s schoolteacher by removing his glasses, cloak and suit jacket, he opens his collar and pulls his tie askew, he rolls up his shirt sleeves and runs his fingers through his hair.
At the funfair, the ensemble wear coats and hats.
Miss Jones wears her hair tied up in a bun, she wears glasses and a smart dark suit with a white blouse. The men from the factory wear heavy dark coats.
Set
For the opening the stage is dark, a terraced street at night is evoked through a few lit windows to the left and right, and in the background an array of little lights suggests the city in the distance. At the end of Act 1, this grey cityscape will be replaced with a rural landscape of stormy sky and rolling hills of fields.
The action at the very start of the play takes place behind a gauze curtain which slowly lifts.
The majority of the action takes place centrally between two
rows of red-bricked terraced houses that are in poor repair, cramped, and open to the pavement. 2 steps lead to the front doors, which are green and have a wooden panel with a brass letter box in the lower half, and a glass panel on top. Each has a fanlight bearing the house numbers. Some of the doors have patterned glass, and one house has a balcony above a porch. The Johnstone’s house is at the end of the row, on the left, bearing a graffitied gable wall. When Mrs Johnstone sings about going dancing, a glitter ball hangs above the stage, then later, briefly, a washing line of babygros and terry-cloth nappies is strung across the street.
The houses opposite the Johnstone’s are similar, but the middle house which has a large multipaned window, will represent the Lyons’ home in a better part of town. Their house porch will become an entry where kids play, and is used as an exit to the stage right.
The background will change as the show progresses. The city at night of tall office blocks with lit windows, spires of churches, domed civic buildings and pale roofs of rows of terraced houses, will be partly obscured when a metal gantry that spans the width of the street is lowered. Beneath it there is a concrete wall with graffiti, the word “EVERTON” in white paint, and a heart drawn between 2 sets of initials.
As the street becomes more dilapidated another set, a derelict building, is lowered from the stage roof to cover the gantry. Through its broken windows we can still see the distant city skyline which includes the Liver Building, locating us in Liverpool. The narrator often looks down on the action from the gantry.
The interior of the Lyons’ home is created by scenery which is lowered when required and raised when not. Pale floral wallpaper covers the walls on which a bookcase has shelves of books and ornaments, and to the right of which hangs a framed landscape painting. In front of this is a square table with a vase of flowers on a white lace-trimmed table cloth. 2 dining room chairs with slatted backs sit on either side of the table. On the floor is a blue Chinese rug. Further to the right, in a recess, is a tall arched casement window. Later, there will be a covered bassinet with valance and wicker padded chair. Later still, a blue 3-seater settee. In the 2nd act, the Lyons’ home in the country is represented by an ornate garden wall of red brick and climbing ivy.
At the beginning of Act 2, the washing line appears once more, the babygros and nappies have been replaced with underwear and a large sheet from behind which a judge briefly presides.
The Johnstone’s home on a new council estate in the countryside is a similar terrace of houses but brighter, with views of green fields and a blue front door with a brass letterbox and a rectangular glass pane in the upper quarter, to the right of it is an entry. The kitchen, which slides on to the stage, has yellow and blue 1960’s formica style units. Kitchen utensils hang on the wall, beside a window above the sink. A small, wooden clothes horse sits in front of the units.
3 rows of two red leather-covered, metal framed bus seats placed in a row diagonally across the stage recreates a bus.
Mickey and Linda’s secondary school has wooden desks and chairs where bored looking pupils sit. The wall behind the desks has dark square wooden panelling on the lower half, with beige painted walls above, and a large multi-paned Victorian arched window.
A wooden slatted fence with a stile in its centre and tufts of grass growing at the bottom takes us into the field where Linda follows Mickey and the teenage Mickey and Edward meet.
3 sets of two red velvet-covered cinema seats placed one to the left, one to the right and one to the back facing the audience recreates the cinema.
The fun fair is represented by coloured bulbs draped across the stage. Various signs say : New Brighton Tower, Rifle Range, Licensed Bar and Restaurant, Espresso Coffee Bar, Fish and Chips, Walls, Wongs Fish and Chips, Pepsi. As the economic climate deteriorates the gantry displays signs offering reduced rent, for sale, factory closed, and space available for lease.
On the corner of wall to the right of the stage, close to the audience, is a payphone.
A blank wall with a pale metal door and topped with metal bars is lowered to bring us into the prison. A small square table with chairs on either side and a lighting effect casting a shadow of bars creates the visitors’ area.
Mickey and Linda’s home is dropped down onto the left of the stage. It has a heavy grey radiator on the wall, above which is a small mirror and a notice board with children’s pictures. The wallpaper is cream coloured and there is a window with a pelmet, pale green curtains are drawn back over lace drapes. A grey wooden armchair sits in front of the window.
The interior of the council building has a hallway of dark wood panelling beneath cream coloured walls. Centrally there is a large Victorian window in dark wood with small panes of glass. The hallway leads to the council chamber itself which is nearest
us on the stage floor. There are two walls with an entrance between. On the right hand wall is a wooden board with inscribed names and on the left hand wall is a wooden plaque. The chamber is also panelled in squares of dark wood and there are some basic grey, desk chairs without arm rests.
Not only do the characters enter and exit through doorways and alleyways in the two rows of houses to the left and right but also in front of and behind them.
The lighting is often dark, with only the narrator or Mrs Johnstone illuminated by spot lighting. The atmosphere is charged and highlighted by coloured filters on the lighting, sometimes it is red, and at other times it is muted to suggest night time. Scenes of heightened intense emotion are illustrated by long rays of lights, which are sometimes like cross beams. Several scenes are brightly lit however, in the first act when Mrs Johnstone is dancing and the children are playing and then when they arrive in the countryside.
The Creative Team
Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright
Musical Supervisor : Matt Malone
Designer : Andy Walmsley
Lighting Designer : Nick Richngs
Sound Designer : Dan Samson
Musical Director Jeremy Wootton
Company Stage Manager : Harriet Saffin
Head of Wardrobe : David Hoy
Welcome to this afternoon’s audio-described performance of Blood Brothers, at the Grand Opera House. The show is 2 hours 45minutes long with one interval. The show will be described by Cara and Noirin.
Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.
Characters and Costumes
It is worth noting that while we meet the twins at different stages of their lives across 20 or so years, each twin is played by one actor throughout, so the twins at 7 are played by the same actors as they grow up, at age 16 and so on. Also, the musical has a large cast with an ensemble who play several different characters.
There are several costume changes throughout the musical, and these can help locate a scene in time, for example, a teddy-boy outfit sets it in the sixties, a donkey jacket in the eighties.Also, costumes are used to convey social status, Mrs. Johnstone’s various housecoats, pinnies and aprons contrast with Mrs. Lyon’s fitted and tailored dresses and suits. Mickey’s scruffyoutfit of hand-me-downs contrasts with Eddie’s neat and tidy school uniform.
Mrs Johnstone is played by Vivienne Carlyle, she is a woman of medium height and build with long blonde wavy hair which she wears tied back she has an oval face with distinct cheekbones and wide set eyes, there are lines around her mouth and eyes.
When we see her first, she is wearing a long grey blue patterned overcoat with navy trim pockets and as the scene changes, she removes her coat to reveal a flowing three-quarter length floral skirt, with a dark belt and pale blue short-sleeved blouse and black court shoes with low heels. When we see her next, she is putting on a floral sleeveless housecoat which has deep pockets, tying it to the side. Throughout the play she will wear several different housecoats or aprons over her clothes. She also wears a long grey woolen coat. When she goes to work for Mrs. Lyons, she wears the floral blue housecoat. Later, she comes to her doorstep wearing a loose house coat over her blouse and skirt.
At the start of Act 2 she wears a blue cardigan with sleeves rolled up to her elbows, a blouse and a belted skirt which is floral, loose and swings just below her knees. On occasion she wears a heavy grey overcoat, and other than at the wedding, when she wears a red suit, she wears a cardigan, apron or housecoat over her clothes when we see her. Finally, she wears a brown blouse and skirt.
Mrs Lyons, played by Paula Tappenden is of tall build, she has a round face with high cheek bones, an small, upturned nose and deep-set eyes. She has long blonde length hair which is loose, and she wears an Alice band and pearl earrings. When we first meet her, she wears a blue suit with jacket and skirt and a pink blouse. When we next see her, she is in a navy dress with small white polka dots, and black low-heeled court shoes, then a blue dress with chiffon sleeves and shoes with a cross strap at the front . When we meet her next, she wears a cream pea-coat and black shoes. After this, she wears a brown suede coat with wide trimmed lapels and pockets, grey trousers and a white top with a long flowing white patterned scarf. When we meet her in Act2, she wears an ivory-colored two-piece suit with a skirt just above her knees and the jacket with three quarter length sleeves. Later she wears a brown-colored coat dress, then a pale blouse and pleated checked skirt with a cream trenchcoat, and later with a head scarf.
Mickeys clothes always seem to swamp him. When we first meet Mickey, played by Sean Jones, he is wearing scruffy knee-length shorts, a large green pullover tank-top which is too big and has holes, over a brown short-sleeved t-shirt. He has baggy grey socks and brown canvas trainers. He is also covered in mud. At the beginning of Act 2 he wears a loose-fitting black blazer, a white shirt, black tie, blue jeans and white trainers. Later, he wears a denim shirt and a denim jacket, then a green parka, then a donkey jacket. Later again he wears a brown cardigan, then navy overalls and boots. The actor who plays Mickey is well-built and stocky with an oval face and brown hair, with short sides and spiky on top.
In contrast to Mickey, when we first meet Eddie, played by Joe Sleight, his hair is neat and tidy and he is wearing a well-fitting grey school uniform comprising short sleeved shirt, tie, tank top, knee-length shorts, grey socks with a red trim pulled up to the knees and polished black, leather lace-up shoes. As an older boy he wears a double-breasted blazer with a shirt and tie, and grey trousers. Later he wears cricket whites with pads, then light brown trousers with a cream jacket and shirt with a light red striped tie. When Mickey wears a green parka, Eddie wears a black overcoat. After this he wears a brown duffle coat and a woolen college scarf, and then a tan trench-coat and suit. Eddie is of a slimmer build than Micky, with soft features and pale skin, and fair hair which is short ,straight and tidy with a side parting.
When we first meet Linda, played by Gemma Brodrick, she has her long brown hair held up in two pigtails with red ribbons and wears a red cardigan over a short yellow dress. As ateenage schoolgirl she wears her hair in a high ponytail, a tight-fitting buttoned school blazer over a shirt and tie with a very short, very tight grey skirt and a small shoulder bag. Later she wears a blue miniskirt and red jacket and shoes with heels. At 18 she wears a blue floral knee-length dress with a white cardigan, and her hair hangs straight. We see her then in a white wedding dress with a net veil. Later her hair is in a low ponytail, and she wears blue jeans, a blue shirt, and a dark belted trench coat. Linda is slim with long legs, large eyes and an oval face.
When we first meet Mr Lyons, played by Tim Churchill, he is wearing a navy waistcoatbuttoned up and has his shirtsleeves rolled down, then we see him with his jacket on completing the three-piece pin stripe suit. Later he wears a blue cardigan and then a dark overcoat. He also wears a brown sheepskin coat.
Donna-Marie, played by Francesca Benton-Stace wears a green jumper and red tartan short skirt, white ankle socks, white plimsolls and her hair in two plaits. Later we see her in a pale pink maternity smock with a white collar and her hair in a ponytail.
As a young boy Sammy, played by Daniel Taylor, wears navy shorts and a blue T-shirt with baggy socks and converse trainers, like Mickey, he is covered in mud. Teenage Sammy wears a black leather biker jacket zipped up and collar upturned, with Status Quo printed on the back. His blue jeans are rolled up at the ankle over black DM boots. Later he wears a trench coat over a grey suit and tie.
The Narrator, played by Kristofer Harding, is a significant role. He is of medium height and build, with thick reddish brown hair. He has an oval face. He wears a black suit with a white shirt and narrow black tie.
Several parts are played by Alex Harland (as Policeman/Teacher), Graeme Kinniburgh (as Postman/Bus Conductor), Latesha Karisa (as Brenda), Michael Gillett (as Sammy), Danny Knott (as Perkins) , Dominic Gore (as Neighbour), and Francesca Benton-Stace as Donna Marie and Miss Jones.
They wear a variety of costumes for different characters –
For Mrs Johnstone’s husband the actor wears a bright blue teddy-boy jacket, a red shirt, black tight trousers, red socks and brothel creeper shoes.
At the wedding do, the men wear dark suits, and the priest is in long white religious robes with red edging and embroidery.
The milkman wears a white cap, a white coat, red apron.
Mrs. Johnstone’s neighbours wear housecoats and scarves over their hair.
The gynecologist wears a white coat and a stethoscope.
The nurses wear blue nurses’ pinafores with white aprons, white caps and dark tights.
The debt collectors wear coats and Trilby hats.
The group of children wear shorts and t-shirts, canvas trainers or plimsolls, one wears a cowboy hat and waistcoat, another a black open-faced balaclava, another has a pot tied to his head.
The policeman wears a policeman’s uniform and helmet.
The judge wears a grey curly wig and red robes.
The bus driver and conductor wear green caps and green jackets.
Eddie’s schoolmaster wears a brown suit and black academic cloak, he wears glasses and has slicked back hair, the same actor becomes Mickey’s schoolteacher by removing his glasses, cloak and suit jacket, he opens his collar and pulls his tie askew, he rolls up his shirt sleeves and runs his fingers through his hair.
At the funfair, the ensemble wear coats and hats.
Miss Jones wears her hair tied up in a bun, she wears glasses and a smart dark suit with a white blouse. The men from the factory wear heavy dark coats.
Set
For the opening the stage is dark, a terraced street at night is evoked through a few lit windows to the left and right, and in the background an array of little lights suggests the city in the distance. At the end of Act 1, this grey cityscape will be replaced with a rural landscape of stormy sky and rolling hills of fields.
The action at the very start of the play takes place behind a gauze curtain which slowly lifts.
The majority of the action takes place centrally between two
rows of red-bricked terraced houses that are in poor repair, cramped, and open to the pavement. 2 steps lead to the front doors, which are green and have a wooden panel with a brass letter box in the lower half, and a glass panel on top. Each has a fanlight bearing the house numbers. Some of the doors have patterned glass, and one house has a balcony above a porch. The Johnstone’s house is at the end of the row, on the left, bearing a graffitied gable wall. When Mrs Johnstone sings about going dancing, a glitter ball hangs above the stage, then later, briefly, a washing line of babygros and terry-cloth nappies is strung across the street.
The houses opposite the Johnstone’s are similar, but the middle house which has a large multipaned window, will represent the Lyons’ home in a better part of town. Their house porch will become an entry where kids play, and is used as an exit to the stage right.
The background will change as the show progresses. The city at night of tall office blocks with lit windows, spires of churches, domed civic buildings and pale roofs of rows of terraced houses, will be partly obscured when a metal gantry that spans the width of the street is lowered. Beneath it there is a concrete wall with graffiti, the word “EVERTON” in white paint, and a heart drawn between 2 sets of initials.
As the street becomes more dilapidated another set, a derelict building, is lowered from the stage roof to cover the gantry. Through its broken windows we can still see the distant city skyline which includes the Liver Building, locating us in Liverpool. The narrator often looks down on the action from the gantry.
The interior of the Lyons’ home is created by scenery which is lowered when required and raised when not. Pale floral wallpaper covers the walls on which a bookcase has shelves of books and ornaments, and to the right of which hangs a framed landscape painting. In front of this is a square table with a vase of flowers on a white lace-trimmed table cloth. 2 dining room chairs with slatted backs sit on either side of the table. On the floor is a blue Chinese rug. Further to the right, in a recess, is a tall arched casement window. Later, there will be a covered bassinet with valance and wicker padded chair. Later still, a blue 3-seater settee. In the 2nd act, the Lyons’ home in the country is represented by an ornate garden wall of red brick and climbing ivy.
At the beginning of Act 2, the washing line appears once more, the babygros and nappies have been replaced with underwear and a large sheet from behind which a judge briefly presides.
The Johnstone’s home on a new council estate in the countryside is a similar terrace of houses but brighter, with views of green fields and a blue front door with a brass letterbox and a rectangular glass pane in the upper quarter, to the right of it is an entry. The kitchen, which slides on to the stage, has yellow and blue 1960’s formica style units. Kitchen utensils hang on the wall, beside a window above the sink. A small, wooden clothes horse sits in front of the units.
3 rows of two red leather-covered, metal framed bus seats placed in a row diagonally across the stage recreates a bus.
Mickey and Linda’s secondary school has wooden desks and chairs where bored looking pupils sit. The wall behind the desks has dark square wooden panelling on the lower half, with beige painted walls above, and a large multi-paned Victorian arched window.
A wooden slatted fence with a stile in its centre and tufts of grass growing at the bottom takes us into the field where Linda follows Mickey and the teenage Mickey and Edward meet.
3 sets of two red velvet-covered cinema seats placed one to the left, one to the right and one to the back facing the audience recreates the cinema.
The fun fair is represented by coloured bulbs draped across the stage. Various signs say : New Brighton Tower, Rifle Range, Licensed Bar and Restaurant, Espresso Coffee Bar, Fish and Chips, Walls, Wongs Fish and Chips, Pepsi. As the economic climate deteriorates the gantry displays signs offering reduced rent, for sale, factory closed, and space available for lease.
On the corner of wall to the right of the stage, close to the audience, is a payphone.
A blank wall with a pale metal door and topped with metal bars is lowered to bring us into the prison. A small square table with chairs on either side and a lighting effect casting a shadow of bars creates the visitors’ area.
Mickey and Linda’s home is dropped down onto the left of the stage. It has a heavy grey radiator on the wall, above which is a small mirror and a notice board with children’s pictures. The wallpaper is cream coloured and there is a window with a pelmet, pale green curtains are drawn back over lace drapes. A grey wooden armchair sits in front of the window.
The interior of the council building has a hallway of dark wood panelling beneath cream coloured walls. Centrally there is a large Victorian window in dark wood with small panes of glass. The hallway leads to the council chamber itself which is nearest
us on the stage floor. There are two walls with an entrance between. On the right hand wall is a wooden board with inscribed names and on the left hand wall is a wooden plaque. The chamber is also panelled in squares of dark wood and there are some basic grey, desk chairs without arm rests.
Not only do the characters enter and exit through doorways and alleyways in the two rows of houses to the left and right but also in front of and behind them.
The lighting is often dark, with only the narrator or Mrs Johnstone illuminated by spot lighting. The atmosphere is charged and highlighted by coloured filters on the lighting, sometimes it is red, and at other times it is muted to suggest night time. Scenes of heightened intense emotion are illustrated by long rays of lights, which are sometimes like cross beams. Several scenes are brightly lit however, in the first act when Mrs Johnstone is dancing and the children are playing and then when they arrive in the countryside.
The Creative Team
Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright
Musical Supervisor : Matt Malone
Designer : Andy Walmsley
Lighting Designer : Nick Richngs
Sound Designer : Dan Samson
Musical Director Jeremy Wootton
Company Stage Manager : Harriet Saffin
Head of Wardrobe : David Hoy
