The Shawshank Redemption - Altrincham Garrick

The Shawshank Redemption - photo by Martin Ogden.

IT never ceases to amaze me, just how resilient the human spirit can be, especially in the face of overwhelming odds and trapped in a system that’s designed to crush you.

Rehabilitation is definitely a dirty word at this grim, Shawshank jail, where inmates serve their time in filthy conditions, trying to avoid the attentions of the sodomites, perpetually stalking the prison’s dark corridors for their next victim.

But things change with the arrival of a prisoner called Andy Dufresne, a refined, intelligent and articulate man, incarcerated for a double murder he claims he didn’t commit.

I hope the subject matter doesn’t deter people from buying tickets for the Garrick’s new curtain raiser because Stephen King’s absorbing and at times deeply moving jail tale is life-affirming stuff.

You’ll also miss some powerful performances from, in particular, Tom Broughton as Dufresne and Lewis Sewell as his best friend Red. There’s a natural and easy chemistry between these two, a tribute to their own talent and a man who has for me, re-defined what amateur theatre is and should be about, Joe Meighan.

For Meighan, the Garrick’s artistic director, there’s no such thing as forbidden theatrical territory, daring to be different, while not alienating theatregoers with more mainstream tastes.

Steven Finney is outstanding as the seemingly pious Warden Stammers and Pete Brassington’s performance as head thug Bogs Drummond is his best on the Garrick stage to date.

How churlish it would be for me not to mention Bill Platt as the prison librarian Brooksie, a librarian for whom books are his reason for living.

Utterly compelling, this prison masterpiece. Do not miss.

Until September 23. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarric.co.uk.

Star rating - 4/5.