Tag Archives: Shawshank Redemption

Competition Closed: Shawshank Redemption Returns to The Gaiety

  By Darren Byrne | April 28, 2010 - 9:31 am | Competitions, Site News, The Arts, The Culch, Theatre
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*** Competition Closed *** *** Congratulations to Audrey, Prendee and Aideen *** *** Thank you to everyone who entered *** I went to see the stage adaptation of Shawshank Redemption last year with some trepidation. It was destined to be compared to the classic 1994 Frank Darabont film which became many people’s favourite movie of all time. To try recreate the power and gravity of the film on stage was going to be a near impossible task. And yet, Owen O’Neill and Dave John’s interpretation of Stephen King’s short story immediately began ploughing its own furrows. The opening sounds of sirens, the introduction of Warden Stammas and the biblical stripping of Andy Dufresne and the other ‘fresh meat’, were clearly geared towards rattling free of the preconceptions, aiming to present something new and different.

Into The West End

  By Lottie | July 28, 2009 - 9:07 pm | The Culch, Theatre
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Some great news from the wings of Irish theatre. Peter Sheridan’s The Shawshank Redemption is preparing to open in the West End on September 13th 2009 with previews available on September 4th. Richard Bachman’s (Stephen King) original short story turn classic movie had it’s stage premier here in Dublin a few months back. It was rumoured that the writers and producers of the stage play were given permission by King to stage the play in here in Ireland and if well received and properly produced would then be given rights to bring the production to the world stage. It looks like Mr. King was pleased. If you are in or around London at the time you can pick up tickets here. See what our very own Mr. Byrne thought of the play when it had it’s World Premier here in the Olympia.

The Shawshank Redemption at the Gaiety Theatre

  By Darren Byrne | May 25, 2009 - 10:38 pm | Featured Post, The Culch, Theatre
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As the curtain lifted, I think I may have gasped at the hugely impressive stage, transformed into the cold, barred up Shawshank Prison. Though destined to be compared with Frank Darabont’s classic 1994 film, Owen O’Neill and Dave John’s interpretation of Stephen King’s short story immediately began ploughing its own furrows. The opening sounds of sirens, the introduction of Warden Stammas (Mitchell Mullen) and the biblical stripping of Andy Dufresne and the other ‘fresh meat’, are clearly geared towards rattling free of the preconceptions, aiming to present something new and different. Andy Dufresne is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover and sent to the notorious Shawshank Prison to serve two life sentences. Stripped of his life, family and freedom, Andy is forced to endure a spirit-crushing routine. But with his quiet strength and inner courage there is one thing that Andy never loses - and that is hope.