REVIEW: THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

Photos: Jack Merriman Photography

Lock your tickets in for The Shawshank Redemption at the New Theatre Peterborough this week.

The clunk of the doors locking sends a shiver through you as the spotlight hits three half naked new prisoners clutching their clothes close as they begin their stretch inside.

The oppressive and imposing set plunges you inside ‘the Shank’ capturing the claustrophobic confines of life in this brutal prison. The lighting and simple set changes are really effective as you move through this storyline of a miscarriage of justice and the ordeal of an innocent man struggling to survive.

If you were a fan of the short novel by Stephen King or the much loved film you might wonder how this would transfer to the stage and whilst it’s adapted to a different medium it tells this inspiring story just as well. It doesn’t shy away from the difficult topics of gang rape, beatings and cruelty of life in this penitentiary but of course isn’t as graphic as the film.

Holby City’s Joe McFadden stars as the wrongfully accused Andy Dufresne, Bill Ward – who you’ll recognise from many TV shows including Coronation Street and Emmerdale – plays the cruel prison warden Stammas and Ben Onwukwe gave the stand out performance for us as Red. Stepping into Morgan Freeman’s shoes is a tough call but he impressively makes this part his own.

The supporting cast is strong too, not just background inmates but each making an impact and their own part stand out as the story unfolds.

Some of the American accents might not be the most convincing but we won’t arrest them for that!

A well deserved standing ovation at the end was a clear sign of an audience who'd got what they wanted.

For a hard hitting tale of courage in adversity and ultimately hope, "Get busy living, or get busy dying," and step through the prison gates to see The Shawshank Redemption at the New Theatre Peterborough this week – it’s well worth doing time for.

This is one of several week-long theatre shows and musicals coming to the Peterborough venue this year with some top names taking to the stage here, so check out what’s on at www.newtheatre-peterborough.com/