Ian Kelsey and Patrick Robinson, two of TV’s most dashing leading men, are set to star in a new production of The Shawshank Redemption coming to Newcastle Theatre Royal in the autumn, October 19 to 24. Long-running star of BBC’s Doctors Kelsey will play Andy Dufresne and Casualty’s Robinson will play Red.

On announcing he was to bring to an end his role as heartthrob practice manager Howard Bellamy in BBC1’s Doctors, there was immediate speculation as to what would be next for Ian Kelsey, who, having hardly been off our screens for more than two decades, has become one of TV’s most prolific leading men.

Kelsey leaves his starring role in a closely-guarded storyline this October to play Andy Dufresne, a banker who having been handed a double life sentence for the brutal murder of his wife and her lover, finds himself incarcerated in the notorious Shawshank penitentiary.

His other major TV roles have included four years in BBC1’s Casualty playing Patrick Spiller, three years as Dave Glover in Emmerdale, two years as Matt Brewer in Down To Earth, six years as DI Richard Mayne in Blue Murder and in the final series of Where The Heart Is as Jack Clayton. Other screen credits include Touching Evil, Murder in Mind and Hotel Babylon. As a leading man in London’s West End, his stage credits include Billy Flynn in Chicago and Danny Zuko in Grease.

Robinson, whose impressive TV career has also spanned more than two decades, is best-known for his role as staff nurse-turned-consultant Martin "Ash" Ashford in BBC’s Casualty, a role which he first played from 1990 to 1996, before he returned for a guest appearance in a two-part special in 1998. He then reprised his role in 2013 for a year.

Robinson’s other TV work includes Midsomer Murders and The Bill, and, in 2013 Strictly Come Dancing where he got to the semi-finals. In 2003 he appeared in action film Belly of the Beast alongside Steven Seagal. Stage roles include the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Romeo and Juliet as their first black Romeo. Other stage credits include Dangerous Corner at London’s Garrick Theatre and Festen at the Almeida and the West End’s Lyric Theatre for Bill Kenwright, and War Horse at the New London Theatre.

Based on the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by celebrated author Stephen King, the play examines desperation, injustice, friendship and hope behind the claustrophobic bars of a maximum security facility. The 1994 feature film, regularly voted a number one movie, starred Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne and Morgan Freeman as Ellis "Red" Redding and was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Freeman.

Presented by Bill Kenwright, this new production marks the 21st anniversary of the film and will be directed by award-winning Broadway director David Esbjornson. It has been adapted by Owen O’Neill and Newcastle’s own Dave Johns, with design by Gary McCann and lighting by Chris Davey.

* The Shawshank Redemption runs evenings at 7.30pm, matinees Thurs 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £14.50 (save 50p per ticket online). Box Office: 08448-112121 or theatreroyal.co.uk