REVIEW | Shawshank Redemption, The Alexandra Birmingham

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Review by Roni Hughes.

If you’ve never seen the movie adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption then you may well have been living under a rock and boy, have you been missing out. Based on the Stephen King novel Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, the movie starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins has become something of a cult classic and sits firmly at the top of IMDB’s list of Top 200 movies of all time.

No surprise then that it feels as though this production has a lot to live up to. Spoiler alert - it does.

Shawshank follows a group of men incarcerated in the run down Shawshank Penitentiary, led by our narrator and ‘man who knows how to get things’, Ellis ‘Red’ Redding (played here by Ben Onwukwe). We join them as they meet Andy Dufresne (Joe Absolom), a new inmate who maintains his innocence despite being convicted of killing his wife and her lover. Andy’s prowess as a banker and his quiet demeanour initially makes him an easy target, but controversially earns him favour with the warden when his skills prove highly valuable. During his time at Shawshank, Andy both befriends and baffles Red by using what he knows to his advantage, and running rings around the prison that Red has only dreamed of.

Ben Onwukwe’s performance deserves heaps of praise here as he plays Red to perfection. Morgan Freeman has some big boots to fill; where others would fail, Ben nails it repeatedly. With a voice like butter and perfect comedic timing, it is very refreshing to see a performer paying homage with such accuracy. Joe Absolom meanwhile brings a quiet anxiety to Andy Dufresne that feels new, but works to show Andy’s journey across the play. Frankly, there is little negative to say about any of the cast overall and their incredibly heartfelt performances. A few pacing issues initially seemed to drag the action, but this resolved itself by the second act. A round of applause to Leigh Jones and Samarge Hamilton who were both covering their understudy tracks for this performance, but did it so well that this could only be noticed by flicking through the programme.

Visually, this show is stunning in a way you may not expect for a play set behind bars. The attention to detail is exquisite, and the set gives an authentic prison feel, from the dull paint job to the intentionally broken and flickering lights. The scene where the men gather in the common room to watch a Rita Hayworth movie on the projector could have been lifted straight from the movie, and credit is due to designer Gary McCann and lighting designer Chris Davey. The show is also interspersed with popular songs of the ’50s and ’60s, lifting us as an audience firmly in to that era, and reminding us that these are ordinary men still trying to live a life. The overwhelming message of the story is to hold on to hope, and the final scene between Red and Andy cements this idea. The stand-out moment of the show, you’ll get chills and manage to leave for home feeling uplifted despite some of the macabre themes here.

Overall, you’ll see Shawshank for the story you know and love, but be left feeling like an inspired new person. A nostalgia trip that soothes the soul, this is definitely not one to miss.

Shawshank Redemption is performing its last week on the UK Tour at The Alexandra, Birmingham. Performances take place until 12 November, tickets can be booked here.