STEPHEN King’s novella, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, inspired by Tolstoy’s 1872 story God Sees the Truth But Waits, was first published in 1982. Twelve years later the movie The Shawshank Redemption hit the screens, and, after a slow start, is now regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.

Now, fans of the book and of the film have the chance to see the story of Andy Dufresne and Red Redding played out on stage. Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns’ adaptation is on its third UK tour and gaining in power at every outing. The second tour was in Bath three years ago, and now the tweaked version is back again, packing the theatre with eager and transfixed audiences. The most notable changes have been the excellent and evocative new choices of music and a more nuanced ending moment. The other change, outside the influence of the production company, has been the scenes of authoritarian brutality in the United States on screen in our homes at almost every turn. It makes you think … more.

This remarkable production takes place on a stark set designed by Gary McCann, oozing the dejection and misery of a penitentiary for lifers and long-term offenders, run by a closed cabal of scheming, brutal and God-proclaiming staff.

The innocent Dufresne (Joe McFadden), convicted of a double murder, is a very different sort of prisoner. His financial skills are quickly spotted and abused by the governor, chillingly portrayed by mercurial Bill Ward. The sisterhood of sodomites sees the newcomer as easy pickings, but his resolve is greater than their bully-power.

Befriended by the prison’s Mr Get It, Red Redding (played by returning Ben Onukwe, still so memorable from the 2023 tour), Andy Dufresne slowly but surely makes his presence matter.
When a new prisoner arrives, with news that could overturn Dufresne’s conviction, the governor realises he cannot do without his “financial adviser”. Orders are given and tragedy is only a few hours away.

Standing ovations are everyday occurrences at the theatre in the 2020s, but this production richly deserves every audience member on their feet at the end, which allows us hope in very dark times.

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The tour returns to the south and west, at Cheltenham from 10th to 14th February and Barnstaple Queens Theatre from 5th to 9th May. It ends in London on 6th June.

Photographs by Jack Merriman