AQA GCSE Drama sample

Synopsis SET PLAY 2: ‘Blood Brothers’ by Willy Russell 2 ‘ Blood Brothers ’ was first performed in 1983 and is set in Liverpool . e play opens with a Narrator warning the audience that Mrs Johnstone , a working-class mother, is ‘so cruel’ because she had twins and gave one away. Mrs Johnstone sings about her husband who, after she had many children, left her for a younger woman. Mrs Johnstone has a job cleaning for a middle class couple, the Lyons , who are unable to have children of their own. When Mrs Johnstone discovers she is pregnant with twins, Mrs Lyons convinces her to give one of the twins to her. Mrs Lyons tells the superstitious Mrs Johnstone that if the boys ever learn they are twins they will both die. At age seven, the twins, Edward and Mickey , meet and, unaware of their relationship, become best friends and ‘blood brothers’. Edward’s and Mickey’s upbringings are very different. Edward is protected by Mrs Lyons, whereas Mickey spends his days playing in the streets with his friends, including Linda . He is bullied by his older brother Sammy , who he both admires and fears. Mrs Lyons convinces Mr Lyons that they should move away. When Edward comes to say goodbye to Mickey, Mrs Johnstone gives him a locket with a photograph of a young Mickey and her in it. e first act ends with Mrs Johnstone celebrating the news that they are being rehoused to a council estate in the country, which they hope will be a bright new start for them. Act 2 begins with Mrs Johnstone singing about the joys of their new life, but also suggesting that they have brought their problems with them. In particular, Sammy has begun to get into trouble with the law. Mickey is now a self-conscious 14-year-old. Linda declares her love for him. Meanwhile, Edward is at a nearby private school where he is suspended after a teacher tries to take his locket from him. Mickey and Linda are also suspended for talking back in class. Linda and Mickey go up to a field, but Mickey finds he can’t express himself to Linda and she storms off. Edward arrives and the boys resume their friendship. SECTION B STUDY OF A SET PLAY 51