A Liverpudlian West Side Story: twin brothers are separated at birth because their mother cannot afford to keep them both. She gives one of them away to wealthy Mrs Lyons and they grow up as friends in ignorance of their fraternity until the inevitable quarrel unleashes a blood-bath. This edition also contains a chronology of the playwright's life and work; an introduction giving the background to the play; teaching notes, interviews with the playwright and actors, discussion of the themes and ideas for further work; a glossary of words and phrases, photographs from stage productions.

"Willy Russell is less concerned with political tub-thumping than with weaving a close-knit story about the working of fate and destiny...it carries one along with it in almost unreserved enjoyment" The Guardian

One of the longest-running and most successful ever West End musicals, Blood Brothers premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse in January 1983.