BARBARA DICKSON ON 'BLOOD BROTHERS':
'It's a wonderful, epic story that transcends all cultures, creeds and classes...
('Liverpool Live' - 2000)
'When I read that part it just sprang off the page, and I knew exactly what kind of woman [Mrs Johnstone] was. That kind of feeling is every actor's dream.'
('Woman's Weekly' - 1989)
'I was so riddled with self-doubt about whether I could actually do it, never having acted in my life. I don't know if everybody would agree, but I think it's much more of an acting than a singing part and it worried me that I would not be up to doing it.'
('Show Music' Magazine - 2000)
'I'd been offered lots of acting parts before but they didn't have the quality of this. I'm a terrible snob and if I do anything, it's got to be fabulous.'
(1983 - source unknown)
''Blood Brothers' is a demanding, dramatic role which has been wonderful for me, and I had no idea that I could do it.'
('What's On In London' - 1983)
Willy [Russell] has said to me: "You are the definitive Mrs Johnstone, there's never been anybody who's done it like you." It's such a compliment, but it wasn't entirely to do with talent, more the seriousness with which I approached the role. I treated it like I was going to play Lady Macbeth. I wanted it to be absolutely perfect, because Willy was my old friend."
('News Shopper' - 2006)
'I'll have to admit watching others take on the role of Mrs Johnstone was a very strange experience, in fact, if I was being honest I'd have to say that I didn't like it at all.'
('Liverpool Live' - 2000)
'Mrs Johnstone is a role which I created back in 1983 and is very dear to my heart. For some time now I've really wanted to perform 'Blood Brothers' again in Liverpool. After all it is written and directed by sons of Liverpool, and more importantly it's set in the city, so this is the best place in the world to do the show.'
('Liverpool Live' - 2000)
'I feel so proud to have been in Blood Brothers, because it was written in Britain and it's so specifically about a British subject.'
('Show Music' Magazine - 2000)
'I'd love to do more acting but I need to find something as good as Blood Brothers and so far it hasn't come my way'
('Woman's Weekly' - 1989)
'Blood Brothers was a hard act to follow. I couldn't accept a role which was less than that, and such parts are thin on the ground'.
('The Mail On Sunday' - 1993)
WILLY RUSSELL ON BARBARA AND 'BLOOD BROTHERS':
'I didn't want a brilliant actress who would make your stomach churn as soon as she started to sing. [Barbara] has a purity of voice, an English blues sound, a very haunting quality.'
('The Daily Mail' - 1983)
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID:
'The pages of musical history are going to have to be rewritten to include the names of Barbara Dickson and Willy Russell''
(David Roper in 'The Daily Express' - 1983)
'Very occasionally, an unforgettable thrill accompanies a person to a stage. The sight and sound of Barbara Dickson unobtrusively at a piano at the back of this same platform in 1974 ('John Paul George Ringo - And Bert'), is one such indelible memory.... Now she is back on stage, again in a Willy Russell-Liverpool Playhouse production; once again, it is a triumph.'
(Diana Simmonds in 'The Sunday Telegraph' - 1983)
'Mr Russell's songs are strong and melodic... Most are sung by Barbara Dickson and with a tuneful and soulful conviction."
(Milton Shulman in 'The Standard' - 1983)
'The extraordinary Miss Barbara Dickson [is] the show's shining star.'
(Jack Tinker in 'The Daily Mail' - 1983)
'Barbara Dickson was the original Mrs Johnstone. She has now returned to the part; it suits her perfectly, both as an actress and singer. [She] is both motherly and tough and her voice is as strong as ever.'
(Wendy Trewin in 'The Lady' - 1993)
'Barbara Dickson shows what true class is all about... her return to the show is most welcome''
(Catherine Cooper in 'The Stage' - 1993)
