Trading standards investigate theatre's use of quote

Trading standards officials are investigating a West End theatre's use of a reviewer's quote praising The Shawshank Redemption - after it emerged his comments were referring to the Hollywood movie and not the stage version.

Charles Spencer described The Shawshank Redemption as "a superbly gripping, genuinely uplifting drama" - but his review was at that point referring to the 1994 prison film, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, which regularly tops greatest ever movie lists.

The quote, taken from the Daily Telegraph, was placed outside the Wyndham's Theatre to promote the play being staged there.

The reviewer had gone on to say in his article, published in September: "In almost every respect, however, the stage version is inferior to the movie."

Earlier this month, Mr Spencer remarked on the selective use of his review, writing in the Telegraph: "How odd that those words were omitted from the theatre's billboards."

Westminster Council's Trading Standards team said it would contact the London theatre and take further action if it was not satisfied with the explanation given.

If legal action was taken, it could lead to the first time a prosecution of a theatre has been pursued under the Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Sue Jones, operations manager for the council's Trading Standards team, said: "It is not acceptable for any theatre to mislead the public, and we investigate all complaints.

"Nobody has filed any complaints in this instance, but now we are aware of the issue we will be contacting the theatre concerned and ask for an explanation of the wording.

"If we are not satisfied with their response, we will not hesitate to take further action."

Legal expert Neil Adleman told the Evening Standard newspaper: "Trading standards will need to prove producers knowingly used the quote out of context.

"On the other hand, the producers would have to come up with some very good arguments for why they allowed it to be used to promote the show."

A Wyndham's spokeswoman said there was no comment from the play's producers and they had not been contacted by Westminster Council.

The show is due to close on Sunday.