TWO of television’s leading men take on iconic roles in a major new stage production of The Shawshank Redemption, coming to Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre, November 2-7.

Ian Kelsey and Patrick Robinson will take on the roles of Andy Dufresne and Ellis ‘Red’ Redding in a production celebrating the 21st anniversary of the film starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.

The play, like the film, is based on the novel by Stephen King, and tells the story of Andy Dufrense - a banker given a double life sentence for the brutal murder of his wife and her lover, of which he claims to be innocent.

Incarcerated in the notorious Shawshank penitentiary, he meets Red, the prison fixer, and the two strike up an unlikely friendship.

This is Ian Kelsey’s first role since leaving BBC One’s Doctors, where he played practice manager Howard Bellamy for five years.

Kelsey also appeared in Casualty, Emmerdale, and Where the Heart Is; with theatre credits including the West End productions of Chicago and Grease.

Patrick Robinson is best known for his role as nurse turned consultant Martin ‘Ash’ Ashford on BBC One’s Casualty.

In 2013 he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, while his stage credits include the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Romeo & Juliet.

  • FOR more information, visit everymantheatre.org.uk.