#TheatreReview of The Shawshank Redemption the play, 2026 Tour on now 5 stars of Powerful Acting Excellence #Review by Lou @JoeMcFadden @BenOnwukwe @BillWard @TheShawshankPlay

The Shawshank Redemption

Adapted by OWEN O’NEILL & DAVE JOHNS
Based on the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption
by STEPHEN KING
Directed by DAVID ESBJORNSON

Welcome to the inmates of The Shawshank, a maximum security prison in the US where both the prisoners and officers are corrupt. The play is absolutely amazing, based on Stephen King’s novella that also won 7 Academy Awards in film. Whether you have seen the film or not, you won’t be disappointed by this stage play. The richness and atmosphere on stage is even more absorbing and transfixing. Every actor is highly convincing in telling the story of what happens within those oppressive walls where bullying and sexual assault occurs, which is creatively and sensitively performed without lingering too long.

The narration is strong, giving a sense of what prison life is like for the inmates before it’s fully played out, interjecting at key, emotional parts throughout. At times the tension is palpable and other times a bit lighter. The light and dark of the play makes it soar and gives the prison a sense of reality.

Andy Dufresne, played by Joe McFadden is a banker, who becomes friend with prison fixer. Red, played by Ben Onwukwe and things start to look better for him. Warden Stammas, played by Bill Ward, bullies him and exploits his accountancy talents, prompting him to hatch a cunning plan.

Joe McFadden has terrific stage presence and plays Dufresne with much conviction exuding from the stage to the audience. The way he acts, showing shades of light and dark is highly convincing. He makes you truly care about Dufresne and to develop a desire to cheer him on.
Brooksie, played by Kenneth Jay is a strong performance of vulnerability.
When Ben Onwukwe and Bill Ward they also command your presence in their captivating narratives.

These are the actors who command the stage in a way that you don’t want to take your eye off the stage, not for a second. The emotions flood into the auditorium. It’s easy to engage throughout and get intrigued by everyone’s story in The Shawshank prison.

All of the actors gave strong performances as they show the bonds and the hardships and rifts. It feels a very together company of actors.

This creation on-stage of The Shawshank Redemption is one that’s hard to forget and one that you won’t want to miss.

You can book tickets here:
https://www.kenwright.com/productions/shawshank-redemption-2025-2026-tour/

About some of the cast

Joe McFadden‘s numerous television credits include PC Joe Mason in Heartbeat, Raf in Holby City and, of course, winning the 2017 series of Strictly Come Dancing. Theatre credits include 2:22 A Ghost Story, The Rocky Horror Show and Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d.

Ben Onwukwe boasts a 30 year stage career including leading roles with the RSC and the Royal Court, and eleven years on TV as Recall McKenzie in London’s Burning.

Book Tickets On The Website Here: https://www.kenwright.com/productions/shawshank-redemption-2025-2026-tour/

#Review by Bookmarks and Stages – Lou of Glass House #EdFringe @GreensideVenue #Theatre @SandCastlesProductions #EdFringe25

Glass House

Review written by Bookmarks and Stages – Louise Cannon

Set on a bus, Glasshouse is a palpable, powerful play that creates an intriguing, palpable atmosphere on a bus.

The bus is caught in a storm and what ensues is evocative and thought provoking. From the outset it has an intriguing, slightly eerie feel as the rain hammers down. On a small stage, there is great attention to detail to make the seats look like the cast are on a bus, right down to what people are wearing, including the driver.

From the bus being plunged into darkness, to getting some light, the audience are introduced to the passengers and a rather intriguing storyline as unexpected events unfold when the bus comes to a sudden halt.

It’s worth mentioning before events change further, there is a rather agile dance routine from one of the passengers, which gives the play a bit of a lift, with exaggerated movements as though they are on a bus. There’s also a bit of humour in that and in some of the dialogue.

Conversationally, between all the passengers, it feels natural. The writing and acting is skilful to keep it this naturalistic and not purely monologue in nature, although later there is a particularly powerful monologue where you get more insight to a passenger, that works particularly well, both feeding into the story and addressing the audience.

If you were on a bus, looking in, you’d see all sorts of people conversing with each other, some listening and others occasionally talking a little over each other. There are also crossed wires, a noticeable glance here, a touch there, creating rising tensions throughout the play, which all becomes quite palpable. This is strong, convincing acting by this young group of actors.

What happens next is even more powerful as the intensity ramps up a gear as decisions to be made as to what to do about a homeless person who is on the bus, but is ticketless. The play at this point has then changed into one that’s quite thought-provoking. It makes you question what you would do in this situation.

This is a group of young actors who are ones to watch for now and hopefully into the future. The quality of writing and acting are great now and will only increase further. The potential is huge for these students. I’ve seen students perform before and this group are one of the more exciting and I can’t wait to see what their future holds.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the place to see them until and including 23rd August at Greenside Venues on George Street.

Find out more details and how you can get your tickets here: Glass House

Synopsis

Sandcastles Productions

Glass House explores the grimy underbelly of the human beast with unwavering intimacy. A boundary-pushing mocku-theatre piece, the play involves pre-recorded interviews with its ‘real-life’ characters as they share their renditions of what happened on the night of February 14th, 2011. The play uncovers how, on a night of unrelenting rain and flooding in the countryside, a stand-off between a stubborn bus driver and a houseless man who can’t afford a ticket slides into a mire of tension and social conflict.

#Review by Bookmarks and Stages by Lou of The UnderNeath @Cvenues #EdFringe #TheUnderNeath

The UnderNeath
By The Rainbow Room Productions

review written by Bookmarks and Stages -Louise Cannon

What lies in the UnderNeath and what is it? This play gives the perfect chance to find out, in what is an intriguing piece of new writing, which is thought-provoking and makes you ask similar questions as to what the people in-front of you are asked and query themselves.

There’s a certain air of Life on Mars, in that everyone may not be alive and no one, except Neath, knows what’s going on. There are hidden secrets and confessions to be made in what is a mysterious holding room.

The play carries an interesting concept of having one person, Neath, who is 1000’s of years old and is the only one who knows what’s going on. The others are baffled and some, to begin with, don’t remember what happened. The play toys with the characters psychologically as they dig deep for their back stories and into what their deepest regret is to see if they can be released or not from the mysterious place they find themselves in. It’s strength was how each character dealt with their predicament. That’s where the real psychological impact lies, rather than totally in their stories alone. This is fascinating, but I felt a little more of the power of the human condition vibe.
Intriguingly, the room itself, almost becomes a strong, powerful character as you wait to see what happens next and what hold it has on its captives.

It is thought-provoking and well acted in the formation of the actors who give a convincing performance whilst telling their stories and being baffled by what’s happening to them.

You can find out more here, if you dare to go to The UnderNeath

#EdFringe News – the Space UK Venues Announce New Shows for Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025 @theSpaceUK @edfringe #Theatre #Drama #Music #Musicals #Cabaret #Comedy #Dance

theSpaceUK Announces Over 100 New Shows on Sale for Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025

There’s even more reasons to be excited this April as theSpaceUK adds over 100 new shows to its 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme, now on sale at www.theSpaceUK.com.

From powerful new writing and gripping drama to outrageous comedy, magic, musicals, and cutting-edge physical theatre, the latest additions promise something for everyone. Book your tickets now and be part of the Fringe’s most dynamic venue!

Drama & Theatre
Tackling big themes with wit and urgency, The Pornstar Martini Effect: A Bartender’s Guide to Not K*lling Yourself at Christmas (52 Theatre Co.) follows two bartenders confronting harassment, gender dynamics, and identity on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, dark comedy A Play About Feet (Find Your Feet Theatre Company) takes audiences on a chaotic journey through love, ambition, and questionable life choices.

History and myth collide in 1 King, 2 Princes and Shakespeare’s Lie (Slade Wolfe Enterprises Limited), where Richard III returns to challenge history itself in an electrifying solo performance. Elsewhere, Waiting for Elvis (Plush Tiger Productions) imagines a chance meeting between a young Elvis Presley, Agatha Christie’s Margaret Rutherford, and an eager fan in a Scottish airport lounge.

For those who wonder what happens after “The End,” After Shakespeare (Slade Wolfe Enterprises Limited) weaves a fresh narrative for four of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters, blending historical research with original storytelling.

Music & Musicals
The life of Vincent Van Gogh takes centre stage in Vincent: His Quest to Love and Be Loved (Wêla Kapela Productions), a moving mini-musical exploring the artist’s passion, pain, and relentless drive to create.

Meanwhile, corporate satire meets song in You’re Fired! The Musical (McPhilemy and Pozzuto), a razor-sharp look at ambition, success, and the personal cost of capitalism, as one hopeful businessman competes for his big break.

Rocky Horror and Beetlejuice fans won’t want to miss Ghosted! A New Musical (Makena Margolin and Hayden Kline), a riotous blend of comedy, music, and paranormal mayhem following a grieving best friend’s attempts to summon a ghost—only to be haunted by a mischievous spirit.

For a dose of romance, My Sweetheart and Me (Suntree Productions) transports audiences to a Northern Irish bar in 1969, where love and laughter unfold through intertwined love stories.

Cabaret & Comedy
Scottish absurdist comedy takes centre stage with This Play Sucks! (Sean Tennant), a wild, vampire-infused caper that sees two Highlanders hatch a half-baked plot to kidnap a reclusive lord—only to find themselves in way over their heads. Over in the apocalypse, 4’s a Crowd (Or What Not to Do When Stuck in a Bunker During the Apocalypse) (The Fiascoholics) delivers a fast-paced, side-splitting farce about five survivors, four shares of food, and one impossible decision.

Award-winning stand-up Diya Shah? Diya Shahn’t (Diya Shah) brings sharp observational humour to her Fringe debut, while Abby Denton: My Favorite Loser (Abby Denton) makes the case that a forgotten Cuban postman from 1904 is the world’s greatest role model.

For fans of the absurd, End of the World FM (Kevin Martin Murphy / Wandering Artist Collective) follows a lone radio host broadcasting into the void as he grapples with the end of days. Over in cabaret, Closure Cabaret (Maria Ansdell) sees lovelorn emcee Razmatastic bringing her exes to the stage for one last (unwilling) performance.

Dance & Physical Theatre
Scotland’s lost percussive dance traditions take the spotlight in Deiseil: Dancing in Time (Alison Carlyle and Amy Geddes), a captivating blend of live fiddle, Gaelic song, and powerful movement directed by Gerry Mulgrew.

Award-winning Korean theatre company Theater Sangsangchangkko presents I Woke Up One Morning and Had Become AI, an exhilarating physical comedy about two brothers transformed into artificial intelligence.

Blending magic with personal storytelling, Hidden Powers (Angus Baskerville) offers a mind-blowing exploration of neurodiversity, while Sauna Boy (Dan Ireland-Reeves) delivers an unflinching and powerful drama based on real events inside a hidden world of sex, survival, and friendship.

Tickets for over 280 exciting Edinburgh Fringe shows are now on sale at www.theSpaceUK.com. With a programme that spans theatre, comedy, music, and dance, there’s something for everyone at this year’s fringe season.

#Review by Lou of #GhostStories. Will You Survive? 5 stars By @andynyman @dysonjeremy Starring #DanTetsell @tetsellcom #DavidCardy @MantleClive @ELoodmerElliott #Theatre #TheatreTour #Play #GhostStories #Horror #Haunted

Ghost Stories
By Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson

I survived the amazing play that is Ghost Stories, will you?
Are you certain you will when it plays with your senses and all that you think you know and see?
Discover the cast, the synopsis and no spoiler review below. You will also see a link to the website so you can see if it’s touring to a town or city near you. I highly recommend you book, if it is.

The Cast

Dan Tetsell (Rivals) plays Professor Goodman
David Cardy (Birds of A Feather) plays Tony Matthews
Clive Mantle (Casualty, Vicar of Dibley) plays Mike Priddle
Eddie Loodmer-Elliott (Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness) plays
Simon Rifkind

Synopsis

A truly terrifying theatrical experience created by The League of Gentlemen’s Jeremy Dyson, and Andy Nyman, co-creator of Derren Brown’s television and stage shows. Ghost Stories mixes the very best of theatre with the buzz of a thrill-ride, delivering something truly unique.

When Professor Goodman, arch-sceptic out to debunk the paranormal, embarks on an investigation of three apparent hauntings – as recounted by a night-watchman, a teenage boy, and a businessman awaiting his first child – Goodman finds himself at the outer limits of rationality, and fast running out of explanations.

After exhilarating audiences for two years in the West End and across the world with record breaking, sell-out productions and a smash hit film, Ghost Stories is “Genuine scary fun” (Sunday Times), a worldwide phenomenon more spine-tingling and fantastically terrifying than ever.

“I had to sleep with the lights on” (Metro).

Are you brave enough to book?

Please note: Ghost Stories contains moments of extreme shock and tension. The show is unsuitable for anyone under the age of 15. We strongly advise those of a nervous disposition to think very seriously before attending.

Review

I don’t do ghost stories, but I thought I would give this one a try. I went to a matinee performance in Glasgow. Ghost Stories suits an intimate theatre very well.
It was absolutely brilliant! Everything from the spooky atmosphere created, filling the entire auditorium to the special effects, it was as spooky as spooky can be. They use the stage and theatre to the max!

The intensity of atmosphere builds from the moment you walk into the theatre to taking your seat. I won’t say how because that would spoil it. It’s very special and amazing! The intensity continues to build throughout the play. It’s 1 act, so no interval, so you don’t lose the tension. That was cleverly thought out.

4 ghost stories are told. Each actor tells it in monologue. Each actor owned the stage. Each performance was strongly and convincingly acted. To find out what binds them together, you’ll have to see the play for yourself.

There are moments that cause you to jump at what can be heard and seen. It’s also a play that messes with your head a bit, but by the end, you know you’ve just witnessed something so original, so awe-inspiringly impressive. Believe it or not, there is some humour here and there, which the audience laughed at with a nervous laughter before the next twists unfolded.

By the time it ends, with a genius of a twist, you suddenly feel like you can breath again. There are some holding the breath moments throughout.

Ghost Stories is something that needs to be witnessed to be believed. It will grasp hold of you from beginning to end. This is an experience to behold!

Do you dare to discover the huge twists and turns, what power the ghost stories hold over your theatre? Are you prepared to have your senses played with to the extreme? Are you ready to be spooked more than ever before?

You can check out the rest of the theatre tour below and here: Ghost Stories

15 – 19 April 2025
Norwich, Theatre Royal

22 – 26 April 2025
Newcastle, Theatre Royal

29 April – 3 May 2025
Nottingham, Theatre Royal

13 – 17 May 2025
Southend, Cliffs Pavilion

20 – 24 May 2025 onsale soon
Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre

27 – 31 May 2025
Belfast, Grand Opera House

3 – 7 June 2025
Leicester, Curve Theatre

10 – 14 June 2025
Wycombe, Swan Theatre

24 – 28 June 2025
Southampton, Mayflower Theatre

8 – 12 July 2025
Brighton, Theatre Royal

15 – 19 July 2025
Shrewsbury, Theatre Severn

22 – 26 July 2025
Malvern, Malvern Theatres

29 July – 2 August 2025
Cardiff, Wales Millennium Centre

30 September 2025 – 8 November 2025

London, The Peacock Theatre

My Top 10 Theatre and Gigs of 2024 By Lou #Theatre #Musicals #Plays #Gigs #Concerts #Music #Theatreland

I (Louise) have seen a fair bit of theatre shows from from Fringe theatre to full on plays, musicals, talks and gigs. Creating a list of 10 took some thought, but here they are:

Pretty Woman the Musical

It was amazing just how close to the film it was. There were moments for scenery when I wondered if and how parts could be recreated, but it truly was. The cast were on top form and it was a masterpiece from beginning to end.
Discover the synopsis, the cast listing and my full review here: Pretty Woman

David Suchet – Poirot and More… A Retrospective (Talk)

David Suchet, famed for playing Poirot in every tv series gave the most fascinating talk about how he got into the profession, playing many parts that perhaps don’t know so much about and of course and how he ended up embodying one of the most famous detectives in the world – Agatha Christie’s Poirot. This was an amazing, flawless, entertaining talk that had more than anyone could’ve anticipated…
Discover the review and some photos here: David Suchet – Poirot and More

Rick Astley and his Swing Band (Gig)
He’s Never Gonna Give You Up… It’s Rick Astley. He returned with mostly covers from the greats of Swing and totally nailed it! There was amazing jamming of his Swing Band too. It was a fun night out that left me full of joy!
Find out more, including more photos here:
Rick Astley

Macbeth (Play)

Entering the walkway to the auditorium wasn’t how it normally is. The atmosphere and scene was set with big props and theatrics in lighting and plumes of smoke. It was like nothing else I’ve ever seen before (see photos in the blog link) Then you enter to watch what is an incredibly immersive, powerful, performance. It was so enthralling there wasn’t any chatter nor a rustle nor even a sneeze in the audience.

Discover those photos and full review here: Macbeth

Jekyll and Hyde (Play)

A minimalist set is all this play needed. What occurs on stage is nothing short of magic. This was a one man play and what happens on stage is nothing short of compellingly haunting.
Discover more of my review and more here: Jekyll and Hyde

The Last Laugh (Play)

Take 1 dressing room and 3 men you think you know – Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Morecambe and what you get is an excellent array of comedy mixed with poignancy as you see their inner thoughts, concerns and banter between each other before their shows.
Discover the synopsis and review here: The Last Laugh

Talk on Corners – The Corrs with Natalie Imbruglia supporting (Gig)

Return to the 1990’s and squish it together a bit and you get iconic people. Natalie Imbruglia is back! She sang from her new album just ahead of it being officially released (more about that in the link), with great catchy songs and of course sang Torn. She’s still got it!
The Corrs biggest album was Talk On Corners and they played drums and violin, sang their greatest hits and a few others as well as danced and twirled like it was the 90’s. The stage was electric and the atmosphere in the audience was amazing, with sing-along parts too. An excellent night out that left me very smiley like when I first heard them in my teens! The Corrs

Squidge (Play)

“You Can Count On Me Like 123 and I’ll Be There!” That song by Bruno Mars is the theme song throughout Squidge. Lots of people working in education, especially SEND will have it running through their heads countless of times as it fast became a favourite positive song for kids. Daisy is a teaching assistant and looks after those with special needs. Squidge is what she uses as a “tool” for a particular child. What unfolds is heartwarming, poignant and truthful in conversations and inner thoughts about work, school in general and life outside work. It’s as real as it comes, performed by a woman in the know… It was loads better than I expected and I was impressed.
Discover more here: Squidge

The Screen Test (Play)

Set in the 1930’s and played by Bebe Cave, The Screen Test introduces audiences to the character Betsy Bitterly, a charismatic, optimistic actress trying to forever move onwards and upwards in her career and concludes with a dramatic ending. It’s a great play for looking at behind the scenes and delving into the psyche of an actress who also has certain attitudes to deal with.

Find out more of my review and the synopsis here: The Screen Test

The Interval

We all see the person who sells the ice cream during the interval at the theatre, but do we know anything more? Not usually. This play peels back the face of who you see to the soul, experiences and raw emotions of the person we think we see. It’s gritty at times as well as humorous in what is an unforgettable play.

Discover the synopsis and review here: Interval