Upon entering the  Altrincham Garrick, I was immediately drawn into the chilling confines of the Shawshank Prison. The stage, impressively transformed for an amateur theatre, mirrors the grim atmosphere of a bleak, metallic prison block, further intensified by dim lighting. This ambiance, paired with the methodical procession of prisoners, sets an undeniable authentic tone.

I definitely wouldn’t want to be there, and Director; Joseph Meighan has done an excellent job is creating this dirty world, where new inmates dare not step a foot out of line for fear of receiving brutal consequences.

This rendition of “The Shawshank Redemption” offers a fresh perspective on Stephen King’s iconic narrative, a tale that resonates with themes of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. A lengthy stay in prison would destroy most individuals, but somehow these guys manage to cling onto hope when it seems like it’s long gone. 

While I was familiar with the story, this adaptation managed to breathe new life into the tale, making it feel both nostalgic and novel.

The arrival of Andy Dufresne (Tom Broughton) at the Shawshank sets the cats amongst the pigeons. He is an intelligent, well-spoken, quiet man which some inmates feel threatened by. Broughton delivers a performance marked by determination and unwavering hope.

His portrayal is beautifully complemented by Lewis Sewell’s empathetic and authentic delivery of Ellis ‘Red’ Redding. Their palpable chemistry is a testament to their individual talents and the visionary direction of Meighan.

They have pushed theatrical boundaries for Am dram without alienating traditional audiences. The depth and nuance given to each character in the ensemble are evidence of this.

Some of the other members of the cast did seem a bit nervous – quite understandable given it was opening night. After a while, they relaxed into their roles. I will admit though I never once felt intimidated by any of the prison guards, I feel like they could have brought those authority figures to life a bit more.

The play’s deliberate pacing, which often leans towards the slower side, doesn’t ever really overwhelm or excite. There are a few scenes where the pacing does lift, most notably when Brooksie (Bill Platt) attempts to set himself on fire.

While this was an amateur production done to a very high standard, there were elements that I think could have been better. In particular, I think the costumes could have been better – some of them looked a bit too modern to be from the 1950s/1960s, and the prisoner numbers on the inmates’ shirts didn’t look authentic.

Overall, a great production. Those expecting a classic retelling of the movie may be slightly disappointed. However, it’s hard not to salute the hard work that has gone into this show.

Reviewer: Brian Madden

Reviewed: 14th September 2023

North West End UK Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

It never ceases to amaze me, just how resilient the human spirit can be, especially in the face of overwhelming odds and trapped in a system that’s designed to crush you.

Rehabilitation is definitely a dirty word at this grim, Shawshank jail, where inmates serve their time in filthy conditions, trying to avoid the attentions of the sodomites, perpetually stalking the prison’s dark corridors for their next victim. But things change with the arrival of a prisoner called Andy Dufresne, a refined, intelligent and articulate man, incarcerated for a double murder he claims he didn’t commit.

I hope the subject matter doesn’t deter people from buying tickets for the Garrick’s new curtain raiser because Stephen King’s absorbing and at times deeply moving jail tale is life-affirming stuff.

You’ll also miss some powerful performances from, in particular, Tom Broughton as Dufresne and Lewis Sewell as his best friend Red. There’s a natural and easy chemistry between  these two, a tribute to their own talent and a man who has for me, re-defined what amateur theatre is and should be about, Joe Meighan.

For Meighan, the Garrick’s artistic director, there’s no such thing as forbidden theatrical territory, daring to be different, while not alienating theatregoers with more mainstream tastes.

Steven Finney is outstanding as the seemingly pious Warden Stammers and Pete Brassington’s performance as head thug Bogs Drummond is his best on the Garrick stage to date.

How churlish it would be for me not to mention Bill Platt as the prison librarian Brooksie, a librarian for whom books are his reason for living.

Utterly compelling, this prison masterpiece. Do not miss.

Star rating - 4/5.

Rick Bowen

stagestruck.info

Altrincham Garrick have transformed their stage rather convincingly, into a dank, dark, grey, bare and metallic prison block inside the Shawshank Penitentiary in Maine, USA. This foreboding and sparse set, together with low-key lighting, a little haze, and no auditorium music is what greets us as we take our seats this evening. The prison guard walks the prisoners in and they file into their cells one by one. It's sombre, it's ritualistic, and it is scarily real.

This is 'The Shawshank Redemption', a stage adaptation of the classic Stephen King novel and award-winning film that followed. However this was my first visit to 'The Shank' .I have never read the novel, nor have I seen the film. I was therefore watching this story unfold for the first time, and was always trying to second-guess the narrative; sometimes with more success than others.

Directed by The Garrick's Artistic Director, Joseph Meighan, the play had moments of genius juxtaposed with moments of tedium. I was watching a play which was at times hard-hitting and realistic with the actors performing naturalistically, whilst at times we transcended this and were transported into the realms of theatrical and presentational acting. Perhaps this was deliberate, but I am not convinced that it worked. 

Admittedly, this was opening night, and so the actors might well have been a little more tentative than once the play beds in, but still, there were many long gaps and "thought" pauses, especially between scenes as the cast were tasked with bringing set items in and out. The pace was set right from the start as slow, and sadly, it never truly moved out of this the whole evening.

Moments of genius (and pure theatricality) did pop up occasionally, and Brooksie's attempted suicide was one such highlight. Although I found the play dynamically rather pedestrian, the characters were clearly defined, the ennui and quotidian routine of the prison well observed, and the storyline clear and nicely signposted.

Taking the lead role of Andy Dufresne in this brave and bold production (which pulls absolutely no punches!) is the quietly confident and continually hopeful Tom Broughton, whilst the narration and equally important role of Ellis 'Red' Redding was played by a sympathetic and believable Lewis Sewell.

It is a large, all male, ensemble cast, and everyone on stage knew their roles well and how they fit into the play. They all had backstories, and all were fully-rounded characters which is in itself, a very important aspect of this production, and credit here to Meighan for bringing this to bear.

The action of the play takes place over a twenty year period, and the audience is asked to use their suspension of disbelief in this regard, however, none of the cast age either physically or visually, which, perhaps would have been the cherry on the icing if they had.

With a couple more performances for this play to 'bed in' and the actors to pick up on their cues, lifting the pace a little where needed, this will be a very compelling, forthright, and uncompromising piece of theatre.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

September 15, 2023

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