WOS TV: Up Close With … Shawshank‘s Kevin Anderson

American actor Kevin Anderson plays Andy Dufresne in the stage adaptation of Stephen King’s novella The Shawshank Redemption, currently receiving its West End premiere at Wyndham’s Theatre.

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.

Here, he talks to our Whatsonstage.com TV Editor Ian Miller about the play, audience responses, and how he took on the role having never seen the acclaimed 1994 film version starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman…

The Shawshank Redemption, which premiered at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre prior to its London transfer (See News, 1 Jul 2009), 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 currently booking until 14 February 2010.