Onstage Wānaka presents Willy Russell’s hugely successful musical Blood Brothers.

This highly acclaimed musical is set in Liverpool and explores themes of class, fate, and family. It tells the story of twin brothers, Mickey and Edward, who are separated at birth—one raised in poverty by their biological mother, Mrs. Johnstone, and the other in privilege by the wealthy Mrs. Lyons. Despite their different upbringings, the boys become best friends, unaware of their true relationship.

As they grow older, their contrasting social backgrounds lead them down dramatically different paths, ultimately resulting in a tragic ending. The play is narrated by a mysterious figure who foreshadows the twins’ fate, reinforcing its themes of destiny and social inequality.

Originally written as a play in 1981 before being adapted into a musical, Blood Brothers remains one of the most popular and long-running shows in British theatre history.

 

Venue: Lake Wānaka Centre, 89 Ardmore Street, Wanaka

Dates: 8th – 16th August 2025