Review: The Shawshank Redemption at Milton Keynes Theatre

The Shawshank Redemption sees a friendship develop between two convicts in prison. However when one of them is asked to help out the corrupt warden, the dynamic changes between them.

This is an unremittingly bleak play to watch at times but for the end to work it has to be grim.

Applauding before the interval seemed somehow wrong for this play which had given us a brutal insight into a life behind bars.

What holds it together is the performance of the two leads, Patrick Robinson and Ian Kelsey who are phenomenal in adding some much needed light relief to the tense and dramatic proceedings.

It is difficult to talk about the ending without spoiling it, but after the bleakness comes something wonderful. I imagine I wasn’t the only one shedding a tear right at the end.

This isn’t the film and there are several differences. But the story is just as powerful and one that despite all the darkness, you’ll leave with a smile on you face.

It can be seen till Saturday. For tickets call 0844 871 7652 or visit www.atgtickets.co.uk/miltonkeynes.