A rollercoaster of emotion as Blood Brothers plays the Millennium Forum

“Every night I sing ‘Tell Me it’s Not True’ I cry,” she said. “The hardest part is being on stage and singing when the tears come.”

Playing the controversial character of Mrs Johnstone, Lyn Paul will make her first ever visit to Derry when the musical plays the Millennium Forum from October 4 - 8.

But it’s a role she certainly feels comfortable playing after being described by critics as “the definitive Mrs Johnstone.”

“Bill Kenwright changed my life with Blood Brothers,” said Lyn. “I had never acted before but I wrote to him and asked to see him. Three weeks later I was standing on the stage waiting to rehearse for Blood Brothers.

“It’s massive, but a terrific role for a woman of my age.”

As Mrs. J, one of Lyn’s most demanding roles is the final number of the musical ‘Tell Me It’s Not True.’

“There is so much emotion in the song,” she said. “It’s a song that always moves the emotions of the people in the audience. There’s nothing like it when the audience stand up and applaud.

“The musical is a real rollercoaster of emotion. One minute you are crying your eyes out and the next time you are singing a song like ‘Bright New Day.’

The actress first took on the role of Mrs J twenty years ago, and has now returned to the role.

“It’s still exactly the same,” she said. “It’s an extremely tiring role and mentally it can be quite challenging.”

And despite starring in the show thousands of times, Lyn says she still suffers from nerves every time she sets foot on stage.

“I have that fear every night,” she said. “Will I be able to do it, will I lose my voice?

Hailed as one of the best musicals of all time, Blood Brothers, written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell has triumphed across the globe. Scooping up no fewer than four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Blood Brothers is simply unmissable and unbeatable.

Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret.

When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet.

It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax.

Tickets for Blood Brothers are now available by ringing 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.