The Shawshank Redemption | Darlington Hippodrome | 9th September 2025
Review by Stephen Stokoe
Widely regarded as being the best movie ever produced, it is a brave decision to adapt The Shawshank Redemption to the stage and one that I imagine too a great deal of thought. There are some elements that simply could not be altered or left out without incurring the wrath of cinema goers up and down the country. While there are elements slightly altered or left out altogether necessitated by a two hour running time, the story remains intact and the stage version does not feel rushed.
The story tells the tale of Andy Dufresne (Joe McFadden) imprisoned for two consecutive life sentences for a brutal crime we later find out he did not commit. Through the eyes of his fellow inmate Ellis ‘Red’ Redding (Bill Onwukwe) we are told the story of how this mild mannered city banker transformed the lives of everyone he encountered at Shawshank Maximum Security Penitentiary over the course of the best part of two decades.
McFadden and Onwukwe are outstanding in their roles which were made famous by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman and their chemistry is clear to see straight from the off. McFadden’s quirky, almost neurodivergent Defresne works admirably contrasted with the dryly sarcastic and no nonsense commentary from Onwukwe’s Red.
The antagonist of the piece is Warden Stammas (Bill Ward) who rules a tight ship and woe betides anyone, inmate or staff, who dares to cross him. Ward delivers this with a controlled performance and exudes menace as he commands the stage whenever he makes an appearance.
You may be forgiven for thinking that a drama set, for the most part, entirely in a prison will be a deary and dark affair, but there are elements of humour scattered throughout the play which the audience this evening lapped up and which lightened an often harrowing storyline. One such lighter character is that of inmate and prison librarian Brooksie (Kenneth Jay) who potters around wheeling his trolley packed with books for the other inmates to enjoy.
On the other side of the spectrum, you have ‘The Sisters’ Bogs Diamond (Sean Kingsley) and Rooster (Ashley D Gayle) Shawshank’s answer to the mafia and who have a brand of sadistic punishment which is feared throughout the institution. Diamond and Gayle glide around the stage which is appropriate to their characters, but when they strike, it is fast, brutal and controlled. Very good character expression and physicality is displayed by both.
The set (Gary McCann) is integral to the plot and mainly depicts the inside of ‘The Shank’. There is an oppressive feel to it which makes the ending all the more colourful and liberating. Various elements of scenery and props are flown in or utilised to suggest other areas of the prison, such as Warden Stammas’s office and Drefresne’s cell. The lighting (Chris Davey) also plays a signficant part in giving a sense of despair and claustrophobia.
The scene changes are covered by snaps of music from the periodwhich meld into the scenes seamlessly even if one of them this evening was triggered prematurely. Kudos to Bill Ward for remaining composed. The sound design by Andy Graham is appropriate and effective.
The story is adapted from the film which in turn was based on a short story by prolific writer Stephen King called ‘Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption’ and to say that adapting team Owen O’Neill and local lad Dave Johns have done an amazing job would be an understatement. Praise must also be given to director David Ebsjornson and fight director Alison De Burgh for presenting what must have been considered the impossible at the devising stage of the production.
The Shawshank Redemption on stage, like its silver screen counterpart, does not make for easy or comfortable viewing. There are elements and language that would not be appropriate for children. As a piece of dramatic work, this stage production provides everything a fan of the 1994 movie would want and opens up the superb story by Stephen King to a whole new generation.
The acting from the whole cast is right on the button and I definitely recommend a visit to Darlington Hippodrome to experience life inside the cruellest and most corrupt fictional penal institutions in America.