The long-running Liverpudlian musical Blood Brothers has announced a change of cast as it approaches its 16th birthday at the Phoenix theatre. Siobhan McCarthy joins the cast as Mrs Johnstone, with Craig Price as the Narrator and Craig Whiteley as Eddie. Jay Roberts continues to play Mickey.
Also in the current cast, which performed together for the first time yesterday, are Vanessa Clarke, Debbie Eden, Stephen Pallister, Michael Southern, Dan Byrne, Simon Turner, Chloe Taylor, Alex Harland, Anna Sambrook and Michael Everest.
McCarthy is an old hand at the world of West End musical theatre, having previously appeared in the original casts of Evita, Chess, On Your Toes and Mamma Mia!, for which she received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. She has also starred in Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables, Medea and Dancing At Lughnasa.
Willy Russell's Blood Brothers is the dramatic tale of Liverpudlian twins separated at birth. The current production, produced by Bill Kenwright and directed by Kenwright and Bob Tomson, opened at the Noël Coward in July 1988, before transferring to the Phoenix in November 1991. It will celebrate its 20th birthday in the West End next year. em>MA