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"Shawshank" Under the Spotlight
15th March 2010
It was only a matter of time until one of the world’s most loved films, The Shawshank Redemption, would be transferred to a West End stage. Although faced with a hard task to reinvent such a classic on stage, director Peter Sheridan captures Andy Dufresne’s inspirational story in wonderful depth in the theatre version.
Shawshank has topped No.5 on a recent list of most popular films of all time. This added to the challenge of stand up comics and writers Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns, writing the play. Dave Johns admits that, “It was a frightening thing to embark on because so many people know and love the film.” Getting the rights to make such an adaptation were surprisingly available: “It was just sitting there, under everyone’s nose, exactly like the hole behind the Rita Hayworth poster.”
The production involves talent like Kevin Anderson playing the role of Andy and a cast of nineteen whom all together create the ‘Shawshank experience’. The use of lighting in the production is used to impressive effect, illuminating the dark surroundings, creating shadows but what the play doesn’t offer is the glimpses of the outside world. The play is confined to the four walls which heightens the audiences’ sense of entrapment in the prison.
This new stage version of The Shawshank Redemption is being shown at the Wyndhams Theatre from Friday 4th September 2009 – Sunday 14th February 2010, after considerable success at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.