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. Youth Culture = behaviour and interests of teenagers, includes fashion, music and hobbies, associated with freedom and potential. Russell criticises patriarchal attitudes to mental health through Mrs Lyons’s mental deterioration: When Russell wrote the play in 1981, England had just experienced political instability which widened the social class divide: She insists on sheltering Eddie from the “rough boys”, isolating him from the working-class families to protect him from their negative influence

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 :

International

Mrs Johnstone refers to the glamour and beauty of her younger years, when she was like Marilyn Monroe and her husband would dance with her She is dissatisfied with what she has, complaining about the loneliness of her large house and resorting to deceit to achieve her desires The narrator , acting as the Conservative public, asks the audience to judge Mrs Johnstone as a “heartless mother” for giving away her child

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 Social attitudes were slow to change, families expected to have a 'nuclear' structure (mother, father, children). Single parent famillies were frowned upon.

Curriculum

The River Mersey was the "life-blood" of Liverpool and when it collapsed not only effected unemployment but mental health of people. 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. 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. Many married women during the 1960s and 1970s were prescribed medication to treat anxiety and nerves 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.

However, Russell presents her as a sympathetic character to challenge Conservative stereotypes about single mothers: Mrs Johnstone is an aspirational, loving and honest mother Industrial cities, like Liverpool, where Russell grew up and where the play is set, were affected especially badly Margaret Thatcher , Prime Minister at the time, famously said that hard work was the answer to successMarilyn Monroe, a famous Hollywood actress, was idolised for her beauty, but died young under tragic circumstances linked to drugs Britians traditional industries were in the decline because they were insufficient in keeping up with forgein competition and weren't economically viable anymore, Margaret Thatcher closed them down. The narrator acts in the roles of minor characters within society and delivers negative judgements of Mrs Johnstone’s family: “Goodbye to the riff-raff/The trash and the trouble” Mrs Lyons does not work and is supported by her husband: she is presented as isolated within her marriage: