Published: Thursday, 9th April, 2009 12:30pm

West End Comes to Dunfermline

by Gary Fitzpatrick

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THE glitz and glamour of big time West End musicals will be coming to Dunfermline with the announcement that the ever-popular "Blood Brothers" will run for five days at the Alhambra.

The Bill Kenwright award-winning production is now in its 21st year at London"s Phoenix Theatre and has developed a cult following.

The news that it will run at the Alhambra from 28th September to 2nd October is a major breakthrough for the Dunfermline theatre, which only re-opened last summer.

It puts it in an elite group of venues which could attract such a high-profile show alongside the likes of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, the Edinburgh Festival Theatre and His Majesty"s in Aberdeen.

Full details of the eight performances, which will include two matinees, will be announced shortly. Maureen Nolan will be in the lead role of Mrs Johnstone – a part originally played by Dunfermline"s own Barbara Dickson when the musical opened in Liverpool in 1983.

'This is huge coup for the theatre and although we had always hoped to attract the highest calibre of entertainment to Dunfermline it has happened quicker than even we had expected,' said Alhambra trustee Bill Fletcher.

'People behind these productions are now seeking us out and we will be making further major announcements in the weeks to come.

'We have already had significant success in attracting big names in rock music and top comedians and this is now a major move into another area of entertainment.

'It"s very important to us that people see the Alhambra as their theatre and so we have to provide entertainment which appeals to people of all ages and interests.

'The people of Dunfermline will have the opportunity to see West End entertainment on their own doorstep and I"m sure they will be delighted about that.

'A lot of people from here already travel for theatre breaks in London and now the West End is coming to them.'

Written by Willy Russell, the musical tells the moving story of twins who are separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks only to meet again with tragic consequences.

The score includes numbers such as "Bright New Day", "Marilyn Monroe" and the emotionally charged "Tell Me It"s Not True".

The musical opened in 1988 in London, has scooped numerous prestigious awards since and is now billed as "The musical for all time". In the "90s, "Blood Brothers" had a two-year run on Broadway.