Blood Brothers: form

Form and Style

“Blood Brothers” is a musical play, utilising songs to tell the narrative and capture various emotional stages of the characters.
It incorporates various theatrical styles - elements of kitchen sink realism (relating to the struggles of the working class), social drama (emphasising societal issues), and tragedy (showing the downfall of the protagonists).
The narrative utilises a range of dramatic conventions including foreshadowing, dramatic irony, symbolism, and leitmotifs.
Use of a chorus is incorporated through the character of the Narrator, who links scenes and provides commentary throughout, similar to Greek tragedy.

Originally written in the 1980s, the story is framed as a flashback, spanning multiple decades, which requires attention to changes in characterisation and setting.
The dialogue in “Blood Brothers” is written in Liverpudlian dialect which localises the story and accentuates the cultural specifics of its setting.

The play utilises elements of Brechtian theatre, particularly evident in the use of direct address to the audience and the foreshadowing narrative of the Narrator.

There is a constant interplay between comedy and tragedy in ‘Blood Brothers’, chilling moments are often followed by humorous ones, creating a roller-coaster of emotions.
The play engages with themes which are universally relatable such as friendship, family, class struggles, nature versus nurture, superstition, and fate.

The characterisation is in ‘Blood Brothers’ is done in a way that emphasises the contrast between social classes, each character acts as a symbol of their respective societal statuses.
Symbols and motifs are repeatedly used throughout the play. For example, the recurring mention of twins serves to highlight the theme of duality throughout the play.

The musical numbers vary in style and tone to convey the emotions and themes in the play. They act as vehicles to further the plot and develop the characters.