Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers opens at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday 20 October, playing the Main Stage for a short run that takes it through to Saturday 24 October. It's the musical written by Willy Russell, and if you've never seen it, the premise is one of those stories that sticks: twins separated at birth who grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences. It's a family drama that leans hard into class and chance, and it's a good bet for a night out if you're in the mood for something with a bit of a punch to it.

This particular production comes from Bill Kenwright, and it's got a fair bit of history behind it. It ran for over 10,000 performances in London's West End — one of only three musicals to ever hit that milestone — and earned the nickname the 'Standing Ovation Musical' along the way. The score includes 'Bright New Day', 'Marilyn Monroe', and the hit 'Tell Me It's Not True', so there are a few songs you'll likely recognise even if you've never seen the show. It runs about two hours and 50 minutes including an interval, and it carries age guidance of 12+.

There are plenty of ways to fit it in over the five days. It opens with a 7:30pm performance on Tuesday 20 October, then runs double on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 with matinees at 2:00pm and evening shows at 7:30pm. Friday 23 is evening only at 7:30pm, and Saturday 24 has a 2:30pm matinee and a 7:30pm show. Tickets start from £29, with price bands varying by performance and going up to £68.