The production will officially open Sept. 13 for a run scheduled through Feb. 14, 2010. Peter Sheridan's production, which features American actors Kevin Anderson and Reg E. Cathey, was first seen at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre earlier this year, where it ran May 14-June 20.
Directed by Sheridan, with designs by Ferdia Murphy, sound by Denis Clohessy and lighting by Kevin Treacy, the cast of 20 also includes Geoffrey Hutchings, Mitchell Mullen, Joe Hanley, Diarmuid Noyes, Shane Attwooll and Geff Francis.
The Shawshank Redemption revolves around Andy Dufresne, who 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, he is forced to endure a spirit-crushing routine. But with his quiet strength and inner courage there is one thing that Andy never loses - hope. In press materials, it is described as "a moving story of courage, friendship and hope."
Anderson has previously been seen on the London stage in Orphans, the world-premiere production of Sunset Boulevard in 1993 (playing Joe Gillis opposite Patti LuPone's Norma Desmond) and Dinner with Friends at Hampstead Theatre in 2001. On Broadway he has been seen in Orpheus Descending in 1989, Death of a Salesman (in which he played Biff) in 1999, Brooklyn in 2004 and Come Back, Little Sheba in 2008. His best-known film role is in "Sleeping with the Enemy" with Julia Roberts.
Cathey is best known for his role as Norman Wilson in the hit series "The Wire" (Carcetti's deputy campaign manager and then top advisor). His numerous TV and film credits include "S.W.A.T" with Samuel L Jackson and Colin Farrell, "Airheads" with Steve Buscemi and Adam Sandler, "American Psycho" with Christian Bale, "The Mask" with Jim Carrey, "Tank Girl" with Naomi Watts, cult movie "Pootie Tang" with Chris Rock and "Clear and Present Danger" with Harrison Ford. He was in two TV Masterpiece Theatre presentations: Rosencrantz in "Hamlet" with Kevin Kline and Virgil in "Dante's Inferno." Director Sheridan co-founded the Project Theatre Company with his brother Jim. His writing credits there include The Liberty Suit and Emigrants, which transferred to the Royal Court. His plays have been performed in New York and Los Angeles. His film credits include "Borstal Boy" in 2000.
Johns and O'Neill have performed in all major comedy venues and comedy Festivals worldwide. They have performed together with other comedians in Twelve Angry Men on the Edinburgh Fringe and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Christian Slater in Edinburgh and subsequently the West End.
To book tickets, contact the box office at 0844 482 5125/5120 or visit www.theshawshankredemption.co.uk.
