A SPELLBOUND audience wandered out of Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre in a daze last night following an emotionally-draining performance of Blood Brothers.

The theatre was packed for the first of eight shows this week and those of you with tickets are in for a treat.

Marti Pellow of Wet Wet Wet fame always proves to be a big crowd-puller but those of you expecting the smiling 80s heart-throb will be amazed by his mesmerising and almost menacing performance as Narrator.

The same goes for Maureen Nolan. There’s no trace of the sugar-sweet member of the 70s and 80s girl group, The Nolans.

Instead she gives a gritty performance as Mrs Johnstone that leaves you wondering how she will possibly find the energy to perform so convincingly seven more times by Saturday night.

Blood Brothers tells the story of twin boys separated at birth who grow up in totally different circumstances.

When they come together, the meeting ends in tragedy and leaves their mother distraught, not to mention the audience.

Sean Jones' compelling performance as Mickey makes it almost impossible to take your eyes off him.

But as the show goes on, equally brilliant displays from Joel Benedict (Eddie), Daniel Taylor as Sammy, Paula Tappenden as Mrs Lyons and the brilliant Danielle Corlass reassure you that this is a deep and classy cast.

Crowds of drama students were there to see how it's done and their bubbly enthusiasm was soon plunged into silence as the story unfolded.

So raw is the emotion displayed by everyone on stage that you feel like you can reach out and touch it.

And the cast looked genuinely touched when the audience leapt to its feet for a richly-deserved standing ovation.

Be prepared for an emotional night and take your tissues - a big box.