You'd expect being a Liverpudlian would give actor Christopher Warburton a head start in his role as Mickey in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers. But he insists he has to tone down his thick Scouse accent so us southerners can understand his jokes.

Christopher Warburton and Daniel Fine as the twins separated at birth

"It depends where I'm playing," he said. "If I'm laying it on a bit thick they miss the jokes. When I'm up north I can speak pretty much as I do normally, but down south, I would need subtitles if I did that."

The long-running hit musical set in Liverpool about twin boys separated at birth is coming to the Oxford Apollo next week.

Christopher's character arguably gets the rough deal in the split, staying with his poor housekeeper mother, Mrs Johnstone, and seven hungry siblings. His secret twin Eddie, played by Daniel Fine, gets a rather more affluent upbringing after his mother makes a pact with her employer in a moment of desperation.

The twins, who know nothing about each other, meet by chance aged seven and decide to become blood brothers, mingling their blood and forging a bond.

When Mrs Johnstone realises who Mickey's new friend is, she sends him away, but the paths of the twins are destined to cross.

Eddie goes to a good school before securing a comfortable position on Liverpool Council, while Mickey is stuck in the economic wasteland of Thatcherite working class England. Despite the social gulf, Mickey is the dominant twin.

Daniel has played Eddie for more than a year, but Christopher only joined the cast two months ago. The 24-year-old says having new blood keeps the show fresh.

"It's quite an adjustment to make after doing the part for this long." Daniel explained. "It's good to get some freshness into the show."

Being the same height with the same colour hair allows them to make convincing twin brothers.

The pair both play down their vocal talents and Daniel insists, to the relief of some perhaps, that it's not quite Phantom of the Opera. They describe it as 'a play with songs', with a folk influence, in contrast with the glitzy

Lloyd-Webber mega-musicals of the time. The score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the sorrowful hit Tell Me It's Not True.

Christopher, 25, says he can sing but doesn't consider himself a singer. He originally wanted to join the marines, but changed his mind after being in a school play. He trained at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and has done some television work, including playing a mourning football fan in Jimmy McGovern's Hillsborough.

To play a seven-year-old boy, he has done his homework by observing childrens' behaviour: "I've been studying children with the travelling I get to do on tour, I can watch children playing and running around."

The show is at the Oxford Apollo from May 27-31. Tickets are £11.50-£25.50. Box office 0870 606 3500.