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CASTING ANNOUNCED

FOR

CURVE AND SADLER’S WELLS PRODUCTION

OF THE MUSICAL
42^nd STREET

STARRING

RUTHIE HENSHALL AS ‘DOROTHY BROCK’

ADAM GARCIA AS ‘JULIAN MARSH’

LES DENNIS AS ‘BERT BARRY’
AND

NICOLE-LILY BAISDEN AS ‘PEGGY SAWYER’

OPENING AT

CURVE, LEICESTER ON

WEDNESDAY 17^th MAY 2023
FOLLOWED BY A SEASON AT SADLER’S WELLS

FROM WEDNESDAY 7^th JUNE 2023

David Ian for Crossroads Live and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions are pleased to announce that Olivier Award-winning actress Ruthie Henshall will star as Dorothy Brock, alongside Olivier-nominee Adam Garcia as Julian Marsh, stage and TV personality Les Dennis as Bert Barry and Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer in 42^nd STREET at Curve, Leicester and Sadler’s Wells.

They will be joined by Sam Lips as Billy Lawlor, with Erica-Jayne Alden, George Beet, Charlie Bishop, Briana Craig, Ashleigh Graham, Alyn Hawke, Aimee Hodnett, Connor Hughes, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Ben Middleton, Benjamin Mundy, Anthony Ofoegbu and Jessica Wright.

The production opens at Curve, Leicester on Wednesday 17^th May 2023, followed by a season at Sadler’s Wells, London from Wednesday 7^th June 2023 before embarking on a UK tour. Further casting for the tour will be announced in due course. 42ndstreettour.com

Ruthie Henshall recently appeared as Tosca in a reimagining of Sondheim’s Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre. Her extensive theatrical credits include Grizabella in Cats, Fantine in Les Miserables, Nancy in Oliver!, Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly and Mama Morton in Chicago, Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot and Amalia Balash in She Loves Me, for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Throughout her career she has also appeared in the original London productions of Miss Saigon, Children of Eden, Crazy for You, The Woman in White, Peggy Sue Got Married and Marguerite. Henshall also tours across the UK, USA and Australia as a concert performer, and previously appeared in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! In 2020.

Adam Garcia’s theatre credits include The Artilleryman in The War of the Worlds, Damien Karras in The Exorcist, Fiyero in Wicked, and Bill Calhoun in Kiss Me, Kate and Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, both of which received Olivier Award nominations for his roles. His film credits include Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Coyote Ugly and Riding in Cars with Boys. Adam recently appeared as a finalist in the UK series of The Masked Dancer, finishing in second place.

Les Dennis most recently starred as Grandad Trotter in Only Fools and Horses The Musical. His other West End credits include Wilbur in Hairspray opposite Michael Ball at the London Coliseum, Amos Hart in Chicago and Bill in Me and My Girl. His touring theatre credits include Art, Legally Blonde, High School Musical 2 and Uncle Fester in the musical comedy The Addams Family. His many TV credits include Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street and a fictional version of himself in Extras.

Nicole-Lily Baisden’s theatre credits include the role of Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon, both in the West End and on tour, and Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre and on tour.

Sam Lips’theatre credits include the role of Don Lockwood in Singin’ In The Rain and Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom, both in the UK and Canada. His Broadway credits Cats, Chicago, Pippin, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and The Cher Show.

This new production will be directed by Jonathan Church (Singin’ in the Rain, The Drifters Girl) with choreography and design by Olivier Award winners Bill Deamer and Rob Jones, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Ian Dickinson and Gareth Tucker, video design by Jon Driscoll, musical supervision by Jennifer Whyte and orchestrations by Larry Blank.

This iconic song-and-dance spectacular features a hit parade of toe-tapping songs, including the title number, “We’re In The Money”, “Lullaby of Broadway”, “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” and “I Only Have Eyes For You”. 42^nd STREET is a timeless and inspiring showbiz fairy tale that combines breath-taking tap dance routines, backstage intrigue, classic romance and delightful comedy to dazzling effect.

Fresh off the bus from small-town America, young and beautiful Peggy Sawyer arrives in New York City dreaming of her name in lights. She quickly catches the eye of a big-time director and lands a spot in the chorus line of Broadway’s newest show…and when the leading lady gets injured, Peggy gets her shot at stardom.

42^nd STREET is a larger-than-life, massively entertaining celebration of musicals and the irrepressible spirit of Broadway that’s guaranteed to lift anyone’s spirits. 

42^nd STREET has music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, based on the novel by Bradford Ropes. Original direction and dances were by Gower Champion. The show was originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick.

The use of all songs is by arrangement with Warner Bros. and EMI Publishing Ltd.

WORLD PREMIERE 

OF

STRANGER THINGS: 

 THE FIRST SHADOW

A NEW STORY LIVE ON STAGE

TO OPEN IN LONDON’S WEST END, 2023

DETAILS OF PRIORITY ACCESS TO TICKETS ANNOUNCED TODAY

Based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry, STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW, a new play written by Kate Trefry, will receive its world premiere in late 2023 at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End, directed by Stephen Daldry with co-direction by Justin Martin. 

Produced by Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions,the play will go on sale this spring, details of which will be announced later this month.  The Duffer Brothers act as creative producers, with 21 Laps as associate producer.

Priority access to tickets will be given to fans who register from today at:

strangerthingsonstage.com

This new play by Kate Trefry, a writer and co-executive producer for the TV series of Stranger Things, will be rooted in the mythology and world of the Netflix global phenomenon.  

Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach.

Brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, who take theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension, this gripping new adventure will take you right back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story – and may hold the key to the end.

Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things debuted on Netflix on 15 July 2016. Its fourth season (released in 2022) tops the Netflix Most Popular English TV list at #1 with 1.35 billion hours viewed; the third season released in 2019 still holds at #6 with 582.1 million hours viewed. The series has garnered over 70 awards worldwide including Emmys and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, and has been nominated for over 230 awards. Recently Stranger Things completed its record-breaking fourth season to huge acclaim, becoming the biggest premiere weekend ever for an English-language TV show on Netflix.

Matt and Ross Duffer said: “We are beyond excited about Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Collaborating with the brilliant Stephen Daldry has been nothing short of inspiring, and Kate Trefry has written a play that is at turns surprising, scary, and heartfelt. You will meet endearing new characters, as well as very familiar ones, on a journey into the past that sets the groundwork for the future of Stranger Things. We’re dying to tell you more about the story but won’t – it’s more fun to discover it for yourself. Can’t wait to see you nerds in London!”

Sonia Friedman said: “The world and mythology of Stranger Things has enabled a rich and fertile ground for creating an incredible story for the stage. The Duffer Brothers have built a huge global following for good reason, and a world-class creative team has built on their boundless imagination to dream up an unbelievably exciting theatrical event for our audiences. Set within the canon of Stranger Things, this new play opens in London, with the West End hosting the only place in the world to experience this new story – for now. I’m thrilled to reunite with my visionary long-term collaborator Stephen Daldry. Together, with our brilliant Netflix partners, we can’t wait to welcome Stranger Things fans into theatre, and theatregoers into the realm of Stranger Things.”

Greg Lombardo, VP Live Experiences for Netflix said, “Stranger Things has captured the imagination of fans around the world and we are incredibly thrilled to expand this exciting universe with Netflix’s first live stage production. With the creative talents of Matt and Ross Duffer combined with Sonia Friedman and Stephen Daldry, theatregoers will be swept up in a truly epic event worthy of Stranger Things.”

STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW will be directed by Stephen Daldry with co-director Justin Martin, set design by Miriam Buether, costume design by Brigitte Reiffenstuel, lighting design by Jon Clark, sound design by Paul Arditti, illusions design by Jamie Harrison & Chris Fisher, video design by 59 Productions, movement direction by Coral Messam, wigs, hair and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates, casting by Charlotte Sutton CDG, international casting consultancy by Jim Carnahan, Gary Beestone for Gary Beestone Associates is Technical Director, with further creative team members to be announced.

Further ticket information, on-sale details, performance schedule, full creative team and casting to be announced at a later date.

Strangerthingsonstage.com

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Gigglemug Theatre presents

Scouts! The Musical

Premiering at The Other Palace for a limited run from 20th June – 2nd July 2023

Welcome to the annual Scout Games! Scouts from around the world have gathered to compete but when an intruder threatens to sabotage the competition, it is up to Joe and Ayesha to put aside their rivalries and use their newfound skills to save the day!

Created in partnership with The Scout Association, The Stage Award-winning
Gigglemug Theatre (Timpson: The Musical, RuneSical, The Bean Spillers: The Improvised Musical) return to The Other Palace with a brand new actor-musician led comedy musical for the whole family.

Praise for Timpson: The Musical, RuneSical & The Bean Spillers: The Improvised Musical:
★★★★★ LONDONTHEATRE1 ★★★★★ THEATRE WEEKLY

★★★★★ NORTH WEST END

The Scouts are a charity which teach skills for life to 58 million Scouts and Guides
worldwide, whom Team Gigglemug have been working closely with since 2019. Scouts!
The Musical was selected for BEAM2021 and, with a book written by Gigglemug AD Sam
Cochrane and a score by former Scout David Fallon, this heart-warming new musical has
everything from hypnotic tango dance breaks to a rock ballad between the Chief Scout
and his one true love, Mother Nature. To put it simply, this show is sheer FUN.

Praise for Timpson: The Musical, RuneSical & The Bean Spillers: The Improvised Musical:

Absolute bangers ★★★★ THE STAGE Comedic genius ★★★★ BROADWAY BABY

Laugh out loud funny ★★★★ MUSICAL THEATRE REVIEW

In recent years, Gigglemug Theatre has become known for partnering with different
organisations to create family-friendly comedy musicals and, as the company will be
turning five in 2023, this year will be no exception. However, this time Team Gigglemug
have a more important mission on their hands: through staging Scouts! The Musical they
hope to encourage young people to get involved with this incredible charity and go on
real life adventures of their own.

Tickets: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/scouts-the-musical

Twitter, Facebook & Instagram: @TheGigglemug Website: gigglemugcomedy.com

Drayton Arms Theatre – until 11 March 2023

Reviewed by Alisdar (Alec) Legge and Virginia Fick

The plot centred initially on the discovery of a murder victim. The play opened by Lady Honoria , the daughter (Rosalind Blessed) screaming followed by he butler Manning, (Christian Ballantyne) setting the scene by describing the various characters.

What followed was then then a farcical parody of a classic murder mystery play redolent of Agatha Christie et al. It was fast paced with plenty of entrances and exits. There were plenty of laughs ,including belly laughs, very fast paced conversations all in all a very enjoyable play of that genre and without giving the ending away lots of twists and turns.

It should be noted that some of dialogue was of its time, some sexual and mysogenic content included but none of which appeared to shock or upset the audience present and which were relevant to the storyline.

I would perhaps single out the performances of Holly Ashman, as the house girl and Helen Bang as the Lady Susan the dotty mystic, for particular praise. In addition Toby Wynn Davies, as the horrible patriarch, gave a really characterful performance. The other members of the cast, Rosalind Blessed the daughter, Peter Rae, the rake and the writer, together with Duncan Wilkins, the son, also gave tremendous performances.

The performers were well rehearsed and their timing during the play was excellent. The play was set in a pre World War ll country house and shabby period furniture which included a tatty chaise longue as a centrepiece. The lighting and sound effects were effective and on time. The players entered and exited via a black curtain covering the whole of the back of the stage and also by the entrance door to the theatre. The closeness of the actors to the audience gave a really intimate feel and the dialogue was very audible.

All in all a very amusing, funny play performed flawlessly by a very talented and professional cast which made for a n extremely pleasant evening at the theatre.

The Drayton Arms is situated on the 153, Old Brompton Road, SW5 0LJ, a 10 minute walk from either the Gloucester Underground Station, or from the Fulham Road, Beaufort Street bus stop.

The theatre is situated on the first floor of the building and accessed through the bar. There are two flights of steep stairs which lead to the theatre with no obvious disabled access. The theatre itself consists of a sloped seating area of about 50 seats with the performing area being the floor at the front of the seats.

EMPIRE THEATRE, LIVERPOOL – UNTIL SATURDAY 4TH MARCH 2023

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

4 ****

It is not often that a pantomime bags a true A-lister but this gleeful production of Mother Goose has accomplished just that with none other than the big screen’s Gandalf and Magneto. Oscar nominated star Sir Ian McKellen, who turns 84 in May, makes a triumphant return to pantomime damehood in this elated and joyous show, which premiered last night in Liverpool.

A fairy tale, with good versus evil, music, topical jokes, slapstick comedy and vibrant costumes. What at first may seem like a regular panto is laced with new ideas, themes and technical mastery, in this new production.

Add a spectacular creative team in the form of the very witty and clever Johnathan Harvey’s (Coronation Street and Gimme, Gimme, Gimme) script and director Cal McCrystal (The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and The Mighty Boosh). The imaginative and traditional sets by Liz Ascroft, who is also responsible for the splendid and expensive looking costumes, especially the animal garb and the ostentatious gowns Mother Goose wears. Along with Lizzi Gee’s spectacular choreography, wait till you see McKellen tap dance, is a winning formula!

Musically the show is impressive, the songs are merry and familiar, with a terrific pit band, directed by James Keay.

Liverpool born, John Bishop, in his West End debut is just charming as Vic, husband to Mother Goose. Together he and McKellen have the style and rapport with the audience that is required and all the chemistry of a comedy duo, who have been working together for years.

The audience is also treated to a little Shakespeare delivered by Ian McKellen, a versatile actor, who has been delivering the Bard’s lines longer then I’ve been alive. But we soon find that Bishop, a long-established staple of the comedy circuit, can navigate his way just as fine through Shakespearean verse, as well – the audience fell silent when they did, you could hear a goose feather drop.

The magic of pantomime never seems to fade, especially not when the new production of Mother Goose is hitting the road until April! It is a joyous celebration of the magic of live theatre.

Theatre Royal, Brighton – until Saturday 4 March 2023

Reviewed by Sue Bradley

4****

Steel Magnolias was written by Robert Harling, influenced by the loss of his sister in 1985. It isn’t a true story, but it might as well be – all the characters were drawn from people that Harling and his family knew, and the crackling dialogue has the spark of authenticity that keeps us involved, right from the start.

The story is set entirely in a small-town Louisiana beauty parlour presided over by the smart and sassy Truvy, played convincingly, in fine Dolly Parton style, by Lucy Speed. Here we also meet Clairee (a rich widow), the mother and daughter tag-team M’Lynn and Shelby, the determinedly single Ouiser, and Annelle, the new girl in town.

Together they gossip and discuss the business of living and loving, with much of their ‘material’ being provided by the men in their lives. We never meet these husbands and partners but, instead, are given broad-brush pictures which tell you more or less everything you need to know. Never cruel but often wickedly on-point, these are the kinds of conversations that usually only women seem to be able to have. Men could learn so much…

A poster of Dolly Parton on one of the walls of the set proudly proclaims ‘The higher the hair, the nearer to God’, and this sort of humour encapsulates the smart one-liners that underpin the whole show. Another favourite of mine was ‘”an ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure”. I’m glad to say this play has no pretensions (beyond British people maintaining Louisiana accents, which, for the most part, they do very well)

It took a little while for the cast to find their rhythm and for us to get used to the strong accented quick-fire dialogue but by the time the interval came, we were fully engaged and eager for Part Two.

The second act takes a darker turn, as was really inevitable, and it is here that the close bonds between the characters really come into play as the women come together to form a much-needed support group. Laura Main’s portrayal of M’Lynn’s grief was genuinely moving and this was then set off by a beautifully timed moment of comic relief by Clairee (Caroline Harker) and Ouiser (Harriet Thorpe) bringing a welcome gale of laughter across the theatre.

The closeness of the characters is enhanced by the clever set which manages to let us see everything and yet confines the players in quite a tight space. Sound design worked well too, with an Eighties music soundtrack providing an appropriately tinny background, apparently issuing from a little pink radio.

We laughed and we cried and we left the theatre feeling we had seen something of how warmth, love and humour can help you get through the hard times and make the most of the good times.

Southampton Mayflower – until 4th March 2023

Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock

4****

A timeless, classic ‘whodunnit’ mystery, set within a gorgeous country house has hit Mayflower-and it is up to you to solve the murder!!

Agatha Christie’s ‘Mousetrap’ has come to Southampton, to give you a chance to be your own detective, with this sterling cast leading your imagination! From the over the top Mr Paravinci, to the subdued Miss Casswell, you will not find a moment that strays your mind away. This entire cast was great-with Elliot Clay, as ‘Christopher Wren’ being cheesy and playful, to Joseph Reed as ‘Detective Sgt.Trotter’ steering the show in and out of the whys and wherefores, until the murderer is revealed! This was a seamless, clear and riveting production right until the very end!

The Mousetrap has a lot to live up to, being the worlds longest running production, but with this cast and brilliant production team, the reputation of the show does not waver. Directed by Ian Talbot OBE and Denise Silvey they have done a perfect job of creating the perfect mystery on stage.

With lots of twists and turns, from tugging of hair to looking into cellars – could these all be clues that will lead you to the murderer? Why did Mollie and Giles go to London? Why did the playful Mr Paravinci arrive unexpectedly after turning his car over in the snow?

These are all questions you need to find the answer to, when you enter ‘The Mousetrap’!

Sunderland Empire – until Saturday 4 March 2023

4****

The much anticipated Nation Theatre production of Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane arrives at the Sunderland Empire on its UK tour.

Katy Rudd’s outstanding direction, Fly Davis’ ethereal set and Jherek Bischoff’s musical composition are the firm foundations from which the powerful production builds.

Visiting Hempstock farm to reminisce after his fathers funeral, middle aged Boy manages to open repressed and forgotten memories of his 12th birthday and his first visit to the Farm…

When the police find the family car, stolen by their lodger (now dead in the car), by Hempstock farm.  Boy (Keir Ogilvy) meets Lettie (Millie Hikasa) for the first time, taking him to the farm while his dad deals with the police.  His mum has been dead for less than a year and his dad is struggling to raise boy and his sister.  The family are in need of money, hence the lodger and they are grieving for their loss.

The Hempstock women, Letty, Mum Ginnie (Kemi-Bo Jacobs) and Old Mrs Hempstock (Flinty Williams) are representative of the three ages of women – child, mother and cone.  And whilst they might not recognise themselves as witches, they are certainly magical.  

At the edge of the farm, Letty and Boy discover a monster trying to find its way onto the world.  Whilst Letty performs magic and incantations to send the creature back to its own world, it attacks Boy and gains a way into his.

And so appears Ursula, the new lodger, pure evil and dark magic.  Charlie Brooks excels in the role and appears to be fully enjoying the malevolence, totally commanding the stage with her interpretation of something demonic and manipulative

I’m not going to give away the plot except to say that good does triumph over evil.

Trevor Fox as Dad is another standout, totally broken but trying to raise the children with love he no longer feels and trying to make up for a mother who is no longer there.  His demonic possession when he falls under Ursula’s spell and redemption when she is gone gives him a chance to shine. 

The ensemble players are a joy to watch, balletic and fluid; their movements are as spellbinding as Old Mrs Hempstock and her snip and stitch. Steven Hoggett’s movement direction is cleverly conceived and utilised.

This is a beautiful production of play.  Not just a children’s story but one for all the family.  The poignancy and joy, the light and shade and the eternal triumph of good over evil make this an unforgettable experience.

Storyhouse, Chester – until Saturday 4 March 2023

Reviewed by Jenniefer Daly

4****

I wasn’t prepared for my first experience of Rocky Horror. I realised this when walking through the renowned cobbled historical steps of Chester, feared by all in stilettos, ….. all except the group of 12 men and women dressed in basques, stockings, maid outfits  and sparkles galore,  sashaying their 6 inch heels  through those same cobbles at 6pm on a Monday night.  These 12 were met by more than half of the faithful  audience  dressed in similar spectacular costumes …. and  so the outrageous fun commenced! 

From the mid 1970’s , Richard O’Brien’s raucous, sci-fi musical has graced the international stage and director Christopher Luscome delighted the Chester audience with a jaw dropping, hilarious, explosion of all things glitter, satin, fishnet, leather  and feather. This really was a hilarious performance and outstanding musical masterpiece accompanied by a superb live band. 

Nerdy Brad (Richard Meek) and innocent Janet (Haley Flaherty) delivered superb vocals and authentic chemistry as the American sweethearts travelling on that fateful journey to visit their science teacher. Innocence and ‘neediness’ is soon spectacularly whipped away by a chance visit to Stephen Webb’s  outstanding Frank n Furter, the very eccentric self proclaimed sweet transvestite villain,  which erupts the eager audience into the classic Time Warp with tremendous audience participation delivering waves of gyrating underwear clad hips,  belonging to that of of ages. 

This performance was full of fun, phenomenal vocals, spectacular costumes and impressive set changes.  The bedroom scene in particular had the audience in fits of hysterics and those faithful followers in the crowd hustled and jeered in true Rocky Horror style. This is a cult classic, it has an audience as well rehearsed in the script as the cast and the call backs were delivered and responded to hilariously, particularly by  RSC and BBC radio voice Philip Franks as Narrator. His one liners, brow raising jokes and come backs were nothing short of genius. 

This is a must see. It’s  a thoroughly entertaining, raucous performance, like nothing I’ve ever seen before and I can’t wait to go again! 

Theatr Clwyd, Yr Wyddgrug – until Saturday March 4th 2023

Reviewed by Julie Noller

5*****

The Shawshank Redemption is well known firstly as the book written in 1982 by Stephen King and then as the 1994 film topping IMBDs all time list. The fact that I had neither read the book or watched the film did not detract from the buzz of attending an opening night. I read a synopsis before attending; I knew it had a cult following. It’s a gritty life tale of a man wrongly convicted for his wifes and her lovers murders. It smacks of desperation, injustice, friendship and more importantly of hope. It is dark and sadistic in it’s approach to human nature in Americas deep south chain gang jails.

It has been adapted for the stage by Owen O’Neil and Dave Johns. Sound by Andy Graham, Lighting Designed by Chris Davey and Design by Gary McCann all deserve a round of applause; the lighting is dark at times with bulbs and slight flashes of light (remember we’re starting life in 1950’s America) set design is basic and grey as drab and lifeless as the jail comes to life in your mind. The sounds however are so clever, snippets of songs break down the fact that years have passed in seconds, words from songs saying what we are all thinking whilst hinting at a wittyness that brings a snigger from the audience.

Ben Onwukwe is brilliant as Ellis ‘Red’ Redding with flashes of Morgan Freeman, he narrates setting the scene, highlighting the story just so we the audience know where we are. He is the go to man, the black marketer, desperatly trying to keep his head above the water. Doing just enough to stay off the Wardens radar. Add the innocent accountant Andy Dufresne the perfectly cast Joe Absolom it’s an intriguing mix of personalities. Joe brings optimism to the stage as Andy encourages others to believe as he has to believe in his innocence. Andy is quietly intelligent using his skills of reading his fellow inmates and guards to boost the confidence of those work colleagues as he sees his life behind bars The warden belives he has manipulated Andy but the strength in intelligence is to let him think that. For the people watchers out there for me The Shawshank Redemption was less about story and more about people. Watching the characters develop was the highlight for me, like a Big Brother within Jail. Andy is intelligent and wise refusing to let the system win, not giving in to the sisters who constantly abuse and beat him. It fascinated me how similar the characters could be yet worlds apart. The repeat offenders, the lifetimers, the abusers, Prison Guards. Stephen King deserves the accolades for such characters full of depth, woe and bitterness but amongst them all he drives home the message that we should never give up hope.

Mark Heenehan is hated as Warden Stammas the man who uses many a cliché to line his own pokets, his prison from the top the bottom is corrupt and is everything we have seen across the movie world of the mid 20th century jail system. A man so cowardly he commits suicide rather than face the consequences for his actions. We all know the ending however as always you want the happy ending long for Andy’s innocence to be proved. This production however much you wish for doesn’t deliver on that wish, it does however deliver the hero not quite driving but looking at the sunset soaking in the warm sun rays by the sea, a fugitive wanted still but its cheery to see and we can ultimately forgive that injustice. There are many messages within The Shawshank Redemption each and every one of us I believe would draw something entirely different. It is a story of greed and abuse, of hope and fear but it teaches us to never given up on all our dreams for what is life without dreams.