Qlocal was invited to the opening night of Blood Brothers at the Liverpool Empire last night.

It was truly fantastic and coming from me that is high praise indeed.

Blood Brothers played its debut performance in Liverpool in 1983; the autumn tour will make a welcome return home to the Empire Theatre for two weeks from 19 September. No stranger to Blood Brothers, The definitive Mrs Johnstone (Manchester Evening News) Lyn Paul returns to the iconic role, one she first played in 1997. Lyn played Mrs Johnstone in the final West End performances at the Phoenix Theatre in 2012.

She has also starred in the UK tour of Cabaret in 2013 as Fraulein Schneider, in Boy Georges musical Taboo and in Footloose - the Musical.Lyn rose to fame in the early 1970s as a member of the New Seekers. She was the featured vocalist on their 1972 Eurovision Song Contest entry, Beg, Steal or Borrow, in which they came second and lead vocalist on the 1974 number-one hit You Wont Find Another Fool Like Me.

Among the groups other works, they recorded the song Id Like to Teach the World to Sing, adapted from an advertising jingle for Coca-Cola, which sold over 20 million copies and still remains one of the 100 best-selling singles in the UK. Hailed as one of the best musicals of all time, Blood Brothers, written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell has triumphed across the globe. Scooping up no fewer than four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Blood Brothers is simply unmissable and unbeatable.

This epic tale of Liverpool life ran in Londons West End for 24 years and exceeded 10,000 performances. It is one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone. Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mothers haunting secret.

The memorable score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True. 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 shows shattering climax.

A sensational cast, incredible show stopping music, remarkable staging and five star performances make Blood Brothers an enthralling night of entertainment. The cast for Blood Brothers includes Joel Benedict, Sarah Jane Buckley, Dean Chisnall, Sean Jones, Adam Search, Danielle Corlass, Tim Churchill, Graham Martin, Laura Harrison, Alison Crawford, Graeme Kinniburgh, Henry Regan and Josh Capper.