The bloody lives of the forgotten

David Kramer has adapted Willy Russell’s acclaimed West End smash-hit musical Blood Brothers for South Africa.

The production had its debut at the Pieter Toerien Montecasino Theatre last week.

This is the first time that Russell has granted permission for his long-running musical to be adapted. Blood Brothers opened on the West End in 1983 and ran for 24 years, becoming one of the longest-running musicals in London.

The story will have a distinctly local flavour with the main characters in the South African production portrayed by exciting young talent. Bianca Le Grange stars as Mrs Johnstone, and 2012 Fleur du Cap Theatre Award winner Elton Landrew as the narrator.
Another 2012 Fleur du Cap Theatre Award winner, Dean Balie, plays Eddie.

Blood Brothers is the story of two brothers separated at birth because of their mother’s desperate financial situation, but brought together again through chance. Kramer’s adaptation of Blood Brothers is set in 1960s Cape Town, with the two families living in Walmer Estate and District Six. The story follows them into the 1970s where the families have been relocated to Parkwood and Elfindale.

Russell said, “I was, understandably, delighted when I learnt that producer Pieter Toerien wanted to present my musical Blood Brothers in South Africa. I was further delighted and excited when David Kramer got in touch to say that he strongly believed that for Blood Brothers to be seen to its greatest effect and with maximum impact in South Africa, the musical should be transposed to a South African setting and adapted accordingly.”

The show will run until 5 January.

Details: 011-511-1818 or www.computicket.com