Shawshank comes to town

How did you get involved with this production?
Pat Moylan (Lane Productions) was over in London doing Stones in His Pockets. I’ve worked with Pat and Breda (Cashe, of Lane Productions) many times before. Pat was approached by Owen O’Neill, an Irish comedian and writer, who was working with Dave Johns on the stage adaptation for Shawshank. Pat asked me about it and I thought it was a fantastic idea. I said: “look it’s an idea, but if you get this right it could be really good.”

Had you read the novella?
I hadn’t actually read the book before but I saw the film when it came out in the cinema and I thought it was brilliant. I was actually over in America for a different film (Borstal Boy) and I met Tim Robbins and I told him that Ireland was one of the only countries where it was initially a hit.

That’s right, it only got a lukewarm box office reception initially?
Yeah, very lukewarm. It was only afterward that it started to garner attention but it was loved here from the start.

Which does the stage adaptation resemble more, the novella or the film?
Well it has to resemble the novella more. When the story was adapted for the screen some scenes were created that were wholly original to the film so they can’t be used at all. This adaptation goes back to the original novella as much as we can.

So presumably the role of Red is once again being assumed by a middle-aged Irishman, as in the original novella?
That’s right yeah. It’s interesting ‘cause we talked initially about getting an Irish actor for the part. Y’ know a really good one, but there’s not that many available that would be right for the role. Gabriel Byrne is an obvious choice, or Brendan Gleeson but they’re busy. It’ll probably be an Irish-American actor.

So what about Andy. Have you anyone in mind for him?
We’ve talked to a few people but we haven’t cast the role yet. I think it really has to be an American actor for the part so Andy and Red will probably both be American actors.

Are you a fan of Stephen King’s?
He’s a brilliant storyteller. There’s one he did on the art of writing that’s actually extremely good. I don’t think there’s a better one on the subject. I’ve used it myself in classes. I mean I like a lot of his other work, like The Green Mile, The Shining. He’s a very good storyteller; he has a great sense of character development and…

Pace?
Yeah, excellent pace. I mean look at it. He’s the most successful writer alive. If it wasn’t any good that just wouldn’t be the case.

It’s often been said that your work reflects the difficulty of life in the capital, and the hope of it too. As a writer it’s one thing but as a director, how do you get that across?
Well that’s the thing. art reflects life. So that’s what you’re attempting to do from scratch each time. There has to be truth in it - it has to come from somewhere real.
This one’s essentially about the triumph of hope over adversity. I think the story itself is very spiritual. It’s been described before as a Christian parable. I guess in that sense Andy would represent a Jesus Christ type figure but I think each of us find our own meaning.

So it’s always coloured by your own experiences?
Oh definitely. It has to be. When you create something, anything, you put something of yourself in it. Y’know I’ve had my own difficulties in life that I had to overcome, as has everyone, and you can’t help but put your own experience into it.

I’ve heard you say that art is about “the struggle within yourself, about getting inside that core struggle and releasing it in some way”.
Well I’m not sure where you read that or where I said that.

It was a radio interview, KFM (Kildare FM).
That’s good. Well like I said I’ve had my own problems that I’ve had to get through. I had to overcome a drink and drugs problem and thankfully I’ve been clean now for nearly 20 years. But if you talk to anyone, it’s the same. Everyone has to deal with something in their life, and the best art pays homage to that.

Have you any advice for someone who is starting to write?
Well the first piece of advice I’d give would be to read the Stephen King book I mentioned! The second would be to draw on your own experiences. I know its that old cliché but it’s true. Above all what you’re looking for is truth. It’s an expression of the truth. So whatever is real for you go with that, experientially speaking. Write what you know.

The Shawshank Redemption runs from the May 14-19 in the Gaiety Theatre.