A PUBLISHING company has have threatened legal action against a Hampshire school for their version of a West End and Broadway hit.

Samuel French Ltd, who handle the licensing of theatre productions, claim Hounsdown School in Totton breached copyright by putting on a performance of Blood Brothers for three nights in their school hall last week.

A spokesman for Samuel French said the firm had been contacted by Willy Russell’s agent who had seen coverage of the performance in the Daily Echo.

Although the school’s production did not feature music from the show written by Willy Russell, he said that it appeared that the school had “broken the law” by the way it chose to perform the production by using certain characters such as the Narrator and incorporating dancing which could be a breach of the copyright licence.

He explained that it was understood the school did not properly advertise the production as a play version of the show, rather than a musical for which they do not have permission to perform.

The spokesman said legal action could be taken against the school if there was found to be a breach of the copyright laws.

The multi-award winning Blood Brothers is a musical with book, lyrics, and music by Willy Russell about twins Mickey and Eddie who are separated at birth, with one raised by a wealthy family and another by a poor family.

Their relationship is concealed by their guardians who strive to keep them apart but their lives become intertwined.

As they try to conquer the social divisions which hinder their friendship, the brothers are caught up in a vicious love triangle, with tragic consequences.

Blood Brothers has triumphed across the globe, running for 24 years in London’s West End and received seven Tony nominations on Broadway.

Last year, the UK tour of the show came to the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton for a two-week run starring Maureen Nolan, of The Nolans, as Mrs Johnstone and Marti Pellow of Wet Wet Wet as the Narrator.

A spokesperson for Hounsdown did not wish to comment.