I HAVE seen Blood Brothers so many times I could recite most of the lines, but it's a show that never fails to move me.

It's the opening scene that gets me - a group of people slowly assemble at a crime scene, as a haunting chorus rises against the misty backdrop of the Liver Building. The first and final scenes are the bookends of Willy Russell's powerful morality tale of twin brothers separated at birth.

Set in 1980s Liverpool, its themes of childhood poverty, debt, unemployment, crime and mental illness make it a story for our times too. Abandoned by her errant husband, Mrs Johnstone has a houseful of hungry children and twins on the way, and the bailiffs are stripping their back-to-back of its contents. In desperation, she gives one of her newborns to the childless, wealthy woman she cleans for.Superstition and fear stalk the two women as they bring up each of the twin boys - one will have a life of privilege, with a public school education and "a bike with both wheels", while the other will stay trapped in the cycle of poverty he was born into.

Performed on a stark set, with a powerful score, Blood Brothers is a story of class divide, with universal themes of love, loss and fate. We first meet brothers Mickey and Eddie as children, when anything is possible. They play noisy games in the street with a gang of neighbourhood kids, beautifully played by the cast of adults. As the boys' friendship runs into adolescence, singing that they each want to be 'That Guy', tension rises and Mrs Johnstone's fateful decision returns to haunt her.

This is Lyn Paul's farewell tour as Mrs Johnstone and it was a treat to see her one last time. Her lovely voice shines in the poignant Easy Terms and haunting showstopper Tell Me It's Not True, and she brings Scouse charm and wit to the role. The final scene was clearly emotional for all the cast, but especially so for Lyn, who is so synonymous with this show.

Alexander Patmore was excellent as Mickey, capturing our hearts as a bright, snotty-nosed scamp later broken by unemployment and depression. Robbie Scotcher was a terrific Narrator, the conscience of the show.

Great performances too from Joel Benedict as sweet posh kid Eddie, Danielle Corlass as Linda, who loses her heart to both twins, Paula Tappenden as Mrs Lyons, a woman spiralling out of control, and the excellent Daniel Taylor as scally turned gangster 'our Sammy'.

A powerful production had the audience on its feet. "It's the first time I've seen it," sobbed a woman a couple of seats along. "I'm heartbroken - in a good way."

Runs until Saturday.