In print

These pages provide details of some of the printed publications - books, theatre programmes, newspapers and magazines - that have featured Lyn Paul during her long career.

Books Advertising Annuals Biographies Fiction - novels and play scripts Music, Musicals and Theatre Nostalgia Quiz Books

Concert and Theatre Programmes New Seekers' programmes featuring Lyn Paul Concert programmes Pantomime programmes Summer Season and Variety Show programmes Theatre programmes

Lyn Paul's dream of starring in a stage musical came true in 1997 when she was offered the lead role of Mrs. Johnstone in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers. Since then she has played the part many times in the West End and at theatres around the UK.

In 2002 Lyn starred in the West End production of Boy George's musical Taboo. The following year she lent her talents to a new musical, The Biz!, by Chris Hamel-Cooke and Charles Garland. In 2007 she starred as Vi Moore in Footloose The Musical and in 2011 she originated the role of Sophie in Rhinestone Mondays. In 2013, having brought the West End production of Blood Brothers to a close the year before, Lyn joined the cast of the Rufus Norris production of Cabaret for its UK tour. The programmes from these productions are described below.

Lyn Paul starred in the West End production of Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre at various times between 1997 and 2012. The theatre programme was amended from time to time to reflect the inevitable cast changes.

Musical Numbers

Act 1

Overture
Marilyn Monroe
My Child
Easy Terms
Shoes Upon The Table
Easy Terms (Reprise)
Kids Game
Shoes Upon The Table (Reprise)
Bright New Day (preview)
Long Sunday Afternoon
Bright New Day

Act 2

Marilyn Monroe
Shoes Upon The Table
That Guy
I'm Not Saying A Word
Miss Jones
Marilyn Monroe
Light Romance
Shoes Upon The Table / Madman
Tell Me It's Not True

Lyn Paul returned to the West End production of Blood Brothers for a week on 7th August 2000, while Denise Nolan took a short break from the show. Also joining the cast that week was Daniel Taylor as Sammy. A special insert featuring Lyn's and Daniel's biographies was added to the programme.

Lyn Paul resumed her role as Mrs. Johnstone in the West End production of Blood Brothers on 9th October 2000. She took a short break from the show to spend Christmas and New Year with her family, returning on 15th January 2001 and continuing until 5th May.

Between October 2000 and May 2001, the Blood Brothers cast changed a number of times, as illustrated below.

Lyn Paul returned to the West End production of Blood Brothers for a week on 25th March 2002, while Linda Nolan took a short break from the show. Lyn then joined the UK touring production for performances in Malvern and Liverpool.

Lyn Paul returned to the West End production of Blood Brothers for another week on 2nd December 2002, while Linda Nolan took a break from the show.

Lyn Paul returned to the West End production of Blood Brothers for a week on 31st March 2003, while Linda Nolan took another short break from the show. An insert was produced for the programme, pointing out that Lyn would be playing the part of Mrs. Johnstone.

Lyn Paul returned to the West End production of Blood Brothers on 1st September 2003, continuing until.10th April 2004. In November Lyn was forced out of the show with laryngitis and was temporarily replaced by Siobhan McCarthy. The other cast changes during this period are detailed below.

Lyn Paul returned to the West End production of Blood Brothers from 1st June - 17th July 2004. After time out for a Summer holiday, she returned again from 6th September - 8th January 2005.

Lyn Paul returned to the West End production of Blood Brothers on 28th January 2008, following four weeks at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

During March 2008 Lyn Paul took a three-week break from the West End production of Blood Brothers, returning on 24th March for rehearsals with a new cast.

A new peogramme was produced to reflect the change of cast. In the Summer this was replaced by another one featuring interviews by Elaine Peake with Willy Russell and Bill Kenwright. Talking about the casting of the show, Bill Kenwright said: "Lyn Paul, who's currently in the show, has had a love affair with it for nearly a decade now, and she's one of my favourite Mrs. Johnstones."

On Tuesday, 31st August 2010, following her appearances in the 2010 touring production of the show, Lyn Paul once again returned to the West End production of Blood Brothers.

Lyn's last performances were due to be Saturday, 23rd October but she was persuaded to stay until Saturday, 20th November. On Friday, 19th November, however, Lyn received the news that her mother, who had been seriously ill for many months, was now in a critical condition. Lyn was given compassionate leave to be by her mum's bedside and so missed both the matinee and evening performances on her last day.

At the beginning of August 2012 it was announced that, after 20 years at the Phoenix Theatre, the West End production of Blood Brothers was going to close. The last performance was originally scheduled to be on Saturday, 27th October but the production was given a two-week reprieve, with a cast of Bill Kenwright's favourites being asked back to give the show a special send off.

Lyn Paul returned to play Mrs. Johnstone for the last time, alongside Warwick Evans, Sean Jones, Mark Hutchinson, Vivienne Carlysle and Jan Graveson in the other leading roles.