Some stories refuse to stay locked up. The Shawshank Redemption — already one of the most cherished films ever made — has broken free from the screen and onto the stage, and it arrives at Theatre Royal Glasgow from Tuesday 24 to Saturday 28 March for a run that promises to be one of the theatrical highlights of the spring.

Scottish actor Joe McFadden leads the cast as Andy Dufresne, the quietly determined banker sentenced to life in the notorious Shawshank prison for murders he insists he didn't commit. McFadden — known to TV audiences from Heartbeat and Holby City, and to Strictly fans as the 2017 champion — brings serious stage credentials too, with credits including 2:22 A Ghost Story and The Rocky Horror Show.

Opposite him, Ben Onwukwe plays Ellis "Red" Redding, the prison fixer whose unlikely friendship with Andy forms the beating heart of the story. Onwukwe brings decades of stage and screen experience, including work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Bill Ward — familiar as Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street and James Barton in Emmerdale — rounds out the principal cast as the menacing Warden Stammas.

Adapted for the stage by Owen O'Neill and Dave Johns, and directed by David Esbjornson, the production is based on Stephen King's 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. The 1994 film adaptation was nominated for seven Academy Awards, and this stage version has drawn its own impressive notices — four stars from both The Herald and The Scotsman, with The Observer calling it "electrifying — it truly is a must-see show."

The Glasgow dates fall right in the middle of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival (11–29 March), meaning the city's stages are buzzing this week. If you're already heading out for a comedy show, The Shawshank Redemption offers the perfect counterpoint — powerful drama with real emotional weight.

What you need to know

  • Dates: Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 March 2026
  • Venue: Theatre Royal Glasgow, 282 Hope Street, G2 3QA
  • Evening performances: Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm
  • Matinees: Thursday and Saturday at 2:30pm
  • Running time: 2 hours 7 minutes (including interval)
  • Age guidance: 12+ years
  • Tickets: Available now via ATG Tickets
  • Getting there: A short walk from Glasgow Queen Street station along Hope Street. The venue is cashless throughout.

The UK tour, presented by Bill Kenwright Ltd, continues after Glasgow to Liverpool Playhouse and Aberdeen's His Majesty's Theatre — but there's something special about seeing a Scottish lead take the stage in his home country. Don't let this one escape you.