HAVING crossed most top-draw West End productions off my to-see-list, Blood Brothers had, until last night's performance at the Bristol Hippodrome, long remained the one I was kicking myself to experience.

Not see. Experience. Because that's what Blood Brothers is really. A stomach-flipping emotional rollercoaster that right from the beginning smacks the audience with the knowledge of a pending tragedy.

It doesn't lull you into thinking this tale will end any other way than in tears, which you must believe me, the cast will extract from you - man, woman or beast.

Set in Liverpool in the early 60s and panning over 20 years, the show tells the story of twins, born to a struggling single mother who already has 'them welfare people knockin' at the door', Mrs Johnson played by the sensational Maureen Nolan, has little choice but to reluctantly give one of the twins away.

Their lives follow very different paths, with the 'kept' twin Mickey played by North Walian Sean Jones, growing up in the 'rough bit' of Liverpool, and the adopted twin Eddie played by Matthew Collyer enjoying a wealthy and privileged middle-class upbringing.

By chance, or twist of fate, they meet several years on, blissfully unaware of their tragic beginnings, and becoming besties they take a vow to become Blood Brothers.

But as the narrator, played by Craig Price, reminds us throughout, when a deal is struck with the devil, one day he'll come to collect.

The story documents a number of social factors from youthful dreams, to rites of passage and harsh realities. But perhaps the most prominent factor is the class system.

I can imagine that perhaps during the 90's and early noughties, the show may have seemed dated, but with the country again in recession and the redundancy rate swelling, the show has an extra injection of modernity.

Although, I was expecting the powerful drama what did come as a exhilarating surprise was the amount of times I, and much of the audience, actually found ourselves laughing out loud.

It's the childish cheekiness of Sean Jones as the young Mickey that really steals the show and to see his perfectly tuned transformation from confident scally-wag to soul-crushed man, in my opinion makes him one of the best theatrical actors in his generation, as you can actually feel your heart breaking for him.

Matthew Collyer's Eddie also makes for some great comic relief though, especially through the 'puberty years'!

For the parents out there, the show does contain a lot of strong language and adult themes so those thinking of taking primary school children may want to consider this.

Blood Brothers runs at the Bristol Hippodrome March 3. Tickets priced from £14.50 to £38.50. Visit www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk for details.