2021 Senior School Production – Blood Brothers
After the splendour of musical comedies and classics enjoyed at Kristin over the past few years, our senior students were hungry for the opportunity to produce a piece of raw, emotional Musical Theatre. Currently the West End’s third longest running musical, Blood Brothers offered our students the opportunity to extend themselves through a theatrical challenge beyond anything they have experienced at Kristin.
Auditions took place in December 2020 to assemble an incredibly strong cast of 25, who began preparations immediately to convincingly convey characters in Liverpool between the 1960’s and 1980’s. Although Blood Brothers is a fictional story, the historical period portrayed in the show is accurate, highlighting the division between the socio-economic class system of the time. Cast discussions and individual research into the history of Liverpool became crucial in being able to deliver a faithful depiction of this complex piece of theatre. On top of this, music was learnt, dialogue was studied, and intensive training in the ‘scouse’ accent commenced. Each cast member was pushed in many ways to perform Blood Brothers with honesty and integrity.
As well as the cast, students shone in many different departments – all vitally important to the success of this mammoth production. 47 students made up the crew, working with staff members in Lighting, Set, Props, Wardrobe, Sound, Hair & Make-Up or Front Of House; learning technical skills and developing professional practice in their respective areas. In the orchestra pit, the Blood Brothers band had the highest proportion of student to adult musicians of any production at Kristin. Each student, on and off stage, contributed greatly to the delivery of a very slick and gripping piece of theatre.
Supporting the students in all areas was a sensational Production Team – staff members, alumni, community members and parents of Kristin, all generously giving their time and expertise to Blood Brothers. Stunning brick-work scenery, breath-taking lighting states and vintage costume items transported each audience member through an enthralling theatrical experience like no other. A sincere thank you to this astounding team, to whom I am eternally indebted.
With a season of just four performances, over a thousand audience members bore witness to this moving show. Laughter erupted throughout Act One, silence haunted the ending of Act Two, and each performance concluded with a rousing standing ovation. The unbelievably positive feedback praised the students for being able to deliver an emotional performance of this magnitude with such authenticity. One community member wrote of the show: “There are many adult performances that never achieve what this amazing production has managed”. Another staff member wrote following the final performance: “I’ve never seen anything so powerful, so extraordinary, so moving”.
Blood Brothers, I know, will live in the hearts of all involved, and all who were privileged enough to experience it, for a very long time.
Hamish Mouat
Artistic Director of Major Productions
