Rating: ★★★★★
Running Dates: Tue 23rd Jan - Sat 28th Jan 2023 at Theatre Royal Brighton
Duration: 2hrs 15mins (including interval)
Director: David Esbjornson
Trigger Warnings: Gang Rape, Suicide, Violence, Misogny, Gambling

The Summary

The Shawshank Redemption is one of the greatest films I’ve ever watched. And I’m not alone – it was voted the UK’s “favourite film” in a 2015 YouGov survey, 21 years after it was released into cinemas. It’s a cultural icon that’s found its place in most film studies degrees, pub quizzes and dating profile biographies. It’s also the creative brain child of the literary master that is Stephen King. Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns had a huge challenge on their hands when they decided to adapt King’s 1982 novella to the stage.

To those who are blissfully unaware of The Shawshank Redemption’s plot line, it’s set in an American high-security prison and follows the incarceration of Andy Dufresne, a wealthy banker who’s serving two life sentences for murdering his wife and her lover. A crime that he claims he didn’t commit.

Andy soon learns that prison isn’t a place to be alone, and strikes up a friendship with the resident “man-who-gets-things”, Red, and things start to look a little brighter. Until he’s coerced into subservience and exploited for his talents in accountancy by the Warden (and the prison guards, too).

But our protagonist has a master plan to find hope, freedom and redemption.

The Review

Sat in row G23 of the magnificent Theatre Royal Brighton, I watched this captivating storyline play out across the masterfully crafted, minimalist prison stage, designed by Gary McCann and evocatively lit by Chris Davey. Red was our narrator throughout the story, enigmatically played by Ben Onwukwe (who I’d personally label as the “standout star of the show”). It’s no easy task to take on a role so iconically played by one of the greatest actors of all time (Morgan Freeman), but Onwukwe took Red as his own.

Our protagonist, Andy, was played by Joe Absolom (famously Matthew Rose in Eastenders, Al Large in Doc Martin, and BAFTA Supporting Actor Nominee as Christopher Halliwell in A Confession). In the first few scenes, his character comes across as somewhat underplayed – but this makes it all the more powerful when he comes into his own in Act 2.

As for the rest of the 12-men-cast, a special light should be shone on the loveable Brooksie (played by Kenneth Jay), and despicable Warden Stammas (played by Mark Hennahan). One of my favourite scenes of the whole play was when Brooksie had to leave The Shawshank Penitiary.

Together, this cast and the production crew seemlessly retold an infamous story of injustice, friendship, hope and desperation – with moments of light relief that brought the audience closer together. Whilst the story itself is incredibly harrowing, the play delivers a message of hope. Enough hope to leave with a spring in your step as you leave the theatre (even on a Monday night), and the power to reclaim “Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying” from that person who ruined it for you on Tinder.

Standout Quote or Moment: “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

See If: You love thrilling stories with complex personalities and interwoven storylines.

Last Impression: “I need to Google Ben Onwukwe and find more of his work!”

Reviewed by Pippa Moyle on Monday 23rd January 2023

Photography by Jack Merriman

The show will run until Saturday 28th January at the Theatre Royal Brighton and is being shown in multiple ATG venues across the country until May 2023.

Disclaimer: We were given complimentary Press Tickets in exchange for this review. We also have an affiliate link with ATG, which means that if you buy a ticket through us, we get a tiny bit of money (at no expense to you!)