The Shawshank Redemption

With the popularity of our trips to both the New Wimbledon and Richmond Theatres ever-growing, we return to the Richmond Theatre this summer, this time to see Stephen King’s 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, adapted for the stage. The 1994 feature film having been nominated for seven Academy Awards.

This thrilling stage production examines friendship and hope behind the claustrophobic bars of a maximum-security facility.

Despite protests of his innocence, Andy Dufresne is handed a double life sentence for the brutal murders of his wife and her lover. Incarcerated in the notorious Shawshank facility, he quickly learns that no one can survive alone.

Andy strikes up an unlikely friendship with the prison fixer Red, and things start to take a slight turn for the better. However, when Warden Stammas decides to bully Andy into subservience and exploit his talents for accountancy, a desperate plan is quietly hatched…

A stellar cast includes Joe McFadden, Bill Ward and Ben Onwukwe. Joe McFadden is probably best known for his numerous television credits including PC Joe Mason in Heartbeat, Raf in Holby City and, of course, winning the 2017 series of Strictly Come Dancing. Bill Ward starred as Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street and James Barton in Emmerdalebut most recently he has been baring all as Gerald in the UK tour of The Full Monty.Whilst Ben Onwukwe boasts a 30-year stage career including leading roles with the RSC and the Royal Court, and eleven years on TV as Recall McKenzie in London’s Burning.

Leaving slightly earlier than usual, and with a shorter journey time, there should be time to grab a bit to eat beforehand, for those that want to.