Blood Brothers

This year, the College production was Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers, with cast, crew and band comprising students from Years 6-12, including students from Penrhos College, Perth College and Methodist Ladies’ College.

The story focusses on two brothers, Mickey and Edward, played by Max Meers (603), Fergus McGregor (701), Bentley Hilmer (12M) and Jacob Mackenzie (12J), who are separated at birth owing to the financial situation of their mother, Ms Johnstone, played by Gia Mairata (Penrhos College). They become friends after realising they’re born on the same day and become ‘blood brothers’, unaware of who the other is, and fall in love with the same girl, Linda, played by Kaitlyn Matthews (602) and Alexia Zammit (Penrhos College).

The musical explores nature versus nurture, brotherhood and the influence class has on the lives of the boys. Edward grows up in a wealthy environment and Mickey lives in poverty, impacted by the financial crisis of the 1980s in the United Kingdom.

It was our first production with co-direction from Ms Mel Priemus and Wesley’s new Head of Arts, Mr Stephen Roberts, who both provided a highly-experimental and unique vision for a show that spent more than 24 years on the West End.

A challenge we faced was that our backstage area was in the direct view of the audience, and thus created a theme of voyeurism with the audience surrounding the performers, looking onto the scenes unfolding on the stage.

In the face of uncertainty owing to COVID-19, the students pushed ahead with great passion, acknowledging the privilege of performing during a pandemic and sacrificing in-person rehearsals for online Webex rehearsals during lockdown.

Thank you to our parents and teachers for the amount of work you put in to source props, record vocal parts, rehearse the band, teach choreography and make sure everything was ready for us to return to the stage.

Being able to see the vision of our directors come together as we performed was a magical experience, as was performing for the sold-out audience every night. It was a very worthwhile yet sad ending for the cast members, who grew together during the lockdown rehearsals, but the friendships made during the five months of rehearsals will last forever.

Thomas Leek (12J) Drama Captain