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Rise of mass advertising and colour television, children were exposed to films, televison programmes and celebrities. She tells audiences she was abandoned by her husband and left with seven children to feed and raise The superb score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True. The cast of the Blood Brothers 2022 Tour.
Most families were patriarchal (man led the family), husband went to work, wife stayed in and did house work. Mr and Mrs Lyons typical family, Mrs Johnstone fills both roles. In 1981 when Russell wrote the play, England was governed by a staunch Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher Many Conservatives , like Mr and Mrs Lyons in the play, disagreed with this and judged any deviation from the nuclear family negatively The Blood Brothers 2023 UK Tour is coming to a theatre near you. The Blood Brothers the musical has now been playing theatres in the UK and Ireland since 1983. BLOOD BROTHERS 2023 UK TOURWhen Russell wrote the play in 1981, England had just experienced political instability which widened the social class divide: Russell wrote his play just after an economic crisis in 1978 known as the Winter of Discontent, a period of time which led to increased crime and drug use The narrator , acting as the Conservative public, asks the audience to judge Mrs Johnstone as a “heartless mother” for giving away her child Few musicals have received quite such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers. Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone. It has been affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical’, as inevitably it “brings the audience cheering to its feet and roaring its approval” (The Daily Mail). However, Russell presents her as a sympathetic character to challenge Conservative stereotypes about single mothers: Mrs Johnstone is an aspirational, loving and honest mother
Mrs Lyons represents a Conservative mother who is unable to deal with the few challenges she faces: The Conservative party reduced the power of trade unions (organisations that argued for better working conditions); this affected the manufacturing industry and, in turn, the working-class : The West End production of Blood Brothers ran for 24 years where it became the third longest-running musical in West End running for over 10,000 performances. Edward’s opportunities in a middle-class family lead to a secure job in the business sector, buffering him from political pressures Her desperation has huge consequences for the children: two of her sons are arrested for violent crime, suggesting Russell’s criticism of the systemMiddle-class were largely unaffected, those who did work in decling industries were running them nd had transferable skills like management so could get new jobs Marilyn Monroe, a famous Hollywood actress, was idolised for her beauty, but died young under tragic circumstances linked to drugs
Mrs Lyons does not work and is supported by her husband: she is presented as isolated within her marriage:
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Social attitudes were slow to change, families expected to have a 'nuclear' structure (mother, father, children). Single parent famillies were frowned upon.
The River Mersey was the "life-blood" of Liverpool and when it collapsed not only effected unemployment but mental health of people. She is dissatisfied with what she has, complaining about the loneliness of her large house and resorting to deceit to achieve her desires The children of the town sing songs about Mrs Lyons, calling her “the mad woman”, reflecting gender stigma associated with mental health Youth Culture = behaviour and interests of teenagers, includes fashion, music and hobbies, associated with freedom and potential. Blood Brothers started life as a play touring UK schools written by Willy Russell. Russell later adapted the play with music he had written. Willy Russell’s other plays include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine.Working-class families struggled financially. Many found it difficult to afford basic things like food, clothes and heating.
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