Calling all StageSiders, welcome back to another review here at StageSideUK. This time around we are talking about the brilliant, and ever so well played Shawshank Redemption, which is currently touring the UK and visiting the Darlington Hippodrome for the week! Settle in and lets get started with this review!
Disclaimer: I was gifted a pair of free tickets in exchange for an honest review of the show.
Trigger Warning: the review contains mentions of the themes and actions in the show. These include things like violence, prison life, anger, fighting, suicice, self-harm, homophobia and more. Please read on responsibly, and stop if overwhelmed.
The Shawshank Redemption is a classic Stephen King Novella, showcasing determination, transformation and the idea of hope. Many will know Shawshank Redemption due to the hugely succesful film starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. This production of The Shawshank Redemption takes the audience through the novella at pace, whilst also providing those emotional or raw elements of the film we all love or reacted to.
The staging is very transformative, really playing on the rigidity of prison life and the routine nature of life in prison. The 3 walls, or I guess 4, stay the same with drop down set pieces changing setting but all within the confines of the prison walls. The use of props and dynamic pieces like tables etc, really help in transporting you from room to room and the transitions are done so well!
The costuming is quite restricted, being that the action takes place in a prison, but even the slightest of changes like tshirts or jackets, accesories or hair styles, helped to show the change in time. Plus some of the props that were used such as the butterfly, the stone carvings, the books all helped bring the pedestrian nature of the aesthetics together.
The story moves at pace, and the action is incredibly slick. From fight scenes to those difficult to watch scenes, you can tell the whole cast knows exactly what they are doing and when they are doing it. Each movement is well timed, the lines are well paced and the whole ensemble are simply amazing to watch. I really forgot I was watching a play at times, the interactions and timing felt so organic!
There simply isn’t a stand out star of the show, because from scene to scene, the cast throw the star status around and share the acalade equally! Each character has a moment where the scene is a little tricky to watch, whether it be an emotionless confession, an act of violence or a struggle with reality.
I went into this production, knowing the film and knowing the book, and I was very surprised at how well the stage show holds up. So much so, I feel it outshines the film. To get this level of rawness on stage, with the material that is covered, it is simply amazing! One minute you face a real kick in the gut, the next utter joy, and then its right back down to the gutter again.
And the ending …. it was a real moment in theatre!
The Shawshank Redemption UK tour is touring theatre at its best!
Accesibility
The show warns audience members of the use of fire effects, lighting, haze and theatrical elements. I do think the warning could go a little further to include the sensetive topics like violence, sexual violence, homophobia, self-harm and suicide.
Value for money
The show is currently priced at around £35 for an unrestricted view seat. To me, this is fair. I think for £35, you get alot of bang for your buck. I think some of the lower priced tickets may offer a restricted version of the show and honestly for this, I think it does matter.
Have your say!
Have you seen The Shawshank Redemptions? Let me know in the comments and let’s get a discussion going.
As always, please be respectful of each other’s opinions and be kind to each other. Bullying will not be tolerated and harmful language will be removed.
Head over to the Terms and conditions page to learn more about our policies, here at StageSideUK.
Follow us on Twitter and give our page a like on Facebook.
Featured images have been referenced and are used in line with fair usage, in the copyright act.