Stage Shawshank Debuts at Wyndham’s, 13 Sep

As previously tipped (See The Goss, 2 Jun 2009), the new stage adaptation of the cult Hollywood film The Shawshank Redemption will receive its UK premiere this autumn, opening on 13 September 2009 (previews from 4 September) at the West End’s Wyndham’s Theatre, where it’s initially booking until 14 February 2010.

The play, based on Stephen King’s 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption which also inspired the 1994 Hollywood film starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, premiered in May at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre, where it concluded on 20 June.

American actors Kevin Anderson and Reg E Cathey lead the 20-strong cast as Andy Dufresne and Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, two prison inmates who develop a life-long friendship after the former, a banker, is wrongly incarcerated for the murder of his wife.

Anderson’s film credits include Sleeping with the Enemy, in which he starred opposite Julia Roberts. On stage, he’s a member of the Chicago-based Steppenwolf Company, created the role of Joe Gillis in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi Theatre and has also appeared in the West End transfer of Orphans with Albert Finney. His most recent stage role was in Salome with Al Pacino.

Cathey is best known for his role as Norman Wilson on TV’s The Wire. His New York stage credits include Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew and The Green Bird.

The new stage version is adapted by comedian-actors Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns, directed by Peter Sheridan and designed by Ferdia Murphy, with lighting by Kevin Treacy and sound by Denis Clohessy. It’s presented by Lane Productions, which has previously had success with I, Keano, Alone It Stands and Twelve Angry Men.