Bill Kenwright’s Blood Brothers – getting to know Mrs Johnstone aka former X-Factor Finalist Niki Colwell Evans
Bill Kenwright‘s award-winning production of the international smash hit musical, Blood Brothers returns to Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Tue 15 Nov – Sat 19 Nov. Niki Colwell Evans and Sean Jones continue in the iconic roles of Mrs Johnstone and Mickey Johnstone.
Niki Colwell Evans first rose to fame in 2007 when she reached the semi-final of series 4 of The X Factor UK mentored by Louis Walsh. After her debut solo single ‘Love Me No More’ in 2008, she went on to play the iconic role Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre between 2008-2009 and in 2010 where she received rave reviews from critics.
When asked what makes Mrs Johnstone such an iconic musical theatre role, Niki explains: ‘It’s because of her strength and the emotions you have to go through when you’re on stage. She starts as a young girl in her 20s, then within 20 minutes she’s got seven kids and has to give one away. It’s a big part and it’s a big part for a woman, which is rare at my age. She’s a strong female lead and she’s so real. Every mother in this country can relate to her on some level because of how real she is. Every mother must see something in Mrs Johnstone that they’ve also gone through.’
On returning to the role for a second time Niki says she has discovered Mrs Johnstone is ‘not such a feisty tiger as I thought when I first did the show. They used to call me ‘The Feisty Tiger Mrs Johnstone’. I come from a family of four, we grew up on a council estate, we had no money, I used to go to school in jelly shoes even in November, and my mum was a tough cookie. You didn’t mess with her and that’s how I thought Mrs J. was or at least that she was how I was. But now I’m older I’ve mellowed. I’m 50 now and I’m not so bouncy as I was ten years ago, so my take on her is much more grounded. She’s stronger without being quite so feisty.’
Niki like so many others in the industry had to enrol in alternative work during the pandemic. She tells of her stopgap employment: ‘I worked in a factory packing boxes for Amazon because I didn’t want to lose my house. I’m a working mum and I have to pay bills. Then when theatre came back it was just amazing. People told me ‘This is just what we needed’ and recently I was talking with a bunch of students in a theatre cafe who saw Blood Brothers and loved it. That enthusiasm is something you can’t buy. To have young people go ‘You were so real, we were so engrossed’ is priceless. To know that you’re not just reaching older people but young kids as well makes me so emotional.’
Niki returns alongside Sean Jones who having played the part of Mickey in Blood Brothers since 1999, will be saying a fond farewell to the role after the Aylesbury date. He has played Mickey in both West End and touring productions to critical acclaim. Other cast members include Jay Worley (Eddie), Richard Munday (Narrator) and Timothy Lucas (Sammy). They will join previous cast members; Paula Tappenden (Mrs Lyons), Tim Churchill (Mr Lyons), Carly Burns (Linda), Nick Wilkes (Policeman/Teacher), Josh Capper (Neighbour), Grace Galloway (Donna Marie/Miss Jones), Melissa Potts (Brenda), Andy Owens (Perkins) and Jacob Yolland (Bus Conductor).
This epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. The musical has since triumphed across the globe, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, and scooping up four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway.
Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences, and boasts a superb score including A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True
Tickets are available now. Visit www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury (bkg fee) or call 0844 871 7615 (Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per min plus your phone company’s access charge).