Ben Onwukwe as Red and Joe McFadden as Andy in the riveting version of The Shawshank Redemption at His Majesty's Theatre. Image - courtesy of Aberdeen Performing Arts.
The first thing you need to do when you sit down to watch The Shawkshank Redemption at His Majesty’s Theatre is put any thoughts of the iconic movie version out of your head.
Because this stage version stands very firmly on its own two feet without any need to reference the 90s movie starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.
And the brilliant ensemble cast – led by outstanding performances from Joe McFadden and Ben Onwukwe – very quickly overwrites the cinematic experience with a muscular and riveting version that is spellbinding from the get-go.
Leaning more into Stephen King’s masterpiece original novella – Rita Hayworth And The Shawshank Redemption – it follows banker Andy Dufresne (Joe McFadden) wrongly jailed for murdering his wife and her lover, on his decades-long journey through the travails of life in the brutal Shawshank State Prison.
At his side all the way is fellow prisoner “Red” Redding (Ben Onwukwe), Shawshank’s go-to guy for getting contraband, who acts as narrator for Andy’s story and ultimately his close friend.
The Shawkshank Redemption at His Majesty's doesn't flinch from the dark themes of Stephen King's masterpiece. Image - courtesy of Aberdeen Performing Arts.
The stage version doesn’t flinch from the dark theme’s of King’s work – the violence, the gang rapes, the brutality of the guards, the grinding of hope beneath the heel of a callous institution’s boot. It can be a tough watch at times.
Adding to the brooding atmosphere is the brilliant set, that punches up the claustrophobic feel of a penitentiary, proving the stage is an ideal setting for The Shawshank Redemption.
All of this is leavened by flashes of humour and the camaraderie of the prisoners as they cope with a system determined to strip them of dignity and humanity by finding small wins in the least expected places.
The biggest win, of course, is Andy – and Red’s – ultimate redemption. Let’s not say more than that for fear of spoilers for those who don’t know the story, other than to point out the audience responded to the closing scene with a spontaneous and justified standing ovation.
The ensemble cast are perfect, bringing each of Stephen’s unforgettable characters to life. Joe McFadden essays Andy as a wronged man who never loses his will or his determination to be free, no matter what. There’s a rich interior life at play, which Joe brings to the fore.
The Shawshank Redemption held the audience spellbound at His Majesty's Theatre. Image - courtesy of Aberdeen Performing Arts
Bill Ward brings quiet menace to his God-fearing, but corrupt, Warden Stammas who is determined to keep Andy jailed, innocent or not, so the former banker can cook the books to line the warden’s pockets.
But the lynchpin – and tour de force – in The Shawshank Redemption is Ben Onwuke as Red. He brings such charisma and charm to the role that you can’t take your eyes off him whenever he is on stage. And as narrator, that’s a lot of welcome stage time.
And Ben delivers Red’s closing homage to hope – no matter what – with a compelling, almost Shakespearean, tone that turns the feel-good factor up to 11 and a fitting close to a brilliant night of storytelling and theatre.
The Shawshank Redemption is at His Majesty’s Theatre until Saturday, April 11. You can find out more information and tickets at Aberdeen Box Office.