Review: Blood Brothers at Winding Wheel, Chesterfield

But that is exactly what Blood Brothers offers from start to finish.

The Winding Wheel was packed for the opening night - there were tears, laughter and a spellbound hush right from the very beginning.

It is a story of tragedy and heartbreak, of inequality and class oppression made into a fabulous piece of entertainment.

Twins separated at birth, one woman’s desperate desire for a child and another’s challenge for mere survival.

Heartwrenching stuff but with wonderful singing and laughs aplenty along the way.

Marti Pellow and Maureen Nolan were outstanding, but by no means dominated the production.

Every single member of the cast was amazing and took us on a rollercoaster ride from small children to adulthood.

There were plenty of school groups in the audience and, as always, Blood Brothers gave plenty for food for thought ahead of literature exams.

The largest group was, however, definitely female and from an generation that grew up with posters of the Wet Wet Wet frontman on their bedroom wall,

His style was a million miles aways from his Angel Eyes days but he kept the crowd just as captivated.

Straight faced and menacing, it was only after a final standing ovation that he released that cheeky grin and famous wiggle.

Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is in Chesterfield until Saturday and tickets are selling out fast.

You are unlikely to see a better production of anything anywhere in the world anytime soon.