Adapted by Owen O’Niell and Dave Johns from the original Novella by Stephen King
Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh Festival 2013
★★★★★ ‘The story shines…almost unbearably moving’ (Libby Purves, The Times)
Associate Direction and Movement Direction
This new production features a cast of comedians including Omid Djalili as Red, the role played by Morgan Freeman in the film, with Ian Lavender as Brooksie and Kyle Secor as Andy.
Direction: Lucy Pitman Wallace
Associate Direction and Movement Direction: Simon Pittman
Design: Gary McCann
Lighting: Kevin Treacy
Sound and Music: Matthew Clifford.
Reviews
★★★★ ‘A show that achieves what it sets out to do’ (The Scotsman)
★★★★ ‘The meaty narrative rolls convincingly down the decades’ (London Evening Standard)
★★★★ ‘an epic, cinematic feel … simple theatrical touches and understated performances … powerfully bring home the story’s message’ … ‘sparingly used movement sequences capture the sleight-of-hand exchanges and grinding routine of day-to-day life in the jail’ (The Herald)
★★★★ ‘powerful stuff’ (Timeout)
‘Secor’s performance is nuanced and engaging’ The Stage
★★★★ ‘a hit … great acting … this is one prison drama you won’t mind spending an afternoon in the cells for’ (The Daily Record)
★★★★★★ ‘You may have seen the film but this punchy new adaptation of Stephen King’s novella by Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns is a revelation … a stunning production’. (Edinburgh Evening News)
★★★ ‘Given that The Shawshank Redemption is high on many favourite-movie lists, this stage adaptation could well be accused of having its beady eye on the bank. But like its hero, Andy Dufresne, who is incarcerated in a hellhole of a prison for a double murder he claims he did not commit, it has unexpected integrity … there’s real emotional potency’ (Lyn Gardner, The Guardian)
★★★★ ‘There’s not a weak link in this prison chain gang. Whether you’re a fan of the story, film or just great theatre,The Shawshank Redemption demands to be seen’ (All Edinburgh Theatre)