⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ “Absolutely a must-see show!”

Following a record-breaking West End season, this powerful production of Twelve Angry Men is back in session…

Twelve Angry Men is perhaps best known as one of the most highly-regarded films of its era, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Citizen Kane and The Godfather when it comes to cinematic legacy. Yet the piece actually began life as a television play in 1954, being adapted for the stage the following year. Following its incredibly successful run on the West End, this new production has brought the story back to the Alexandra Theatre stage, ready to remind audiences why this drama has retained its legacy status.

Set entirely within one room, this courtroom drama sees the twelve members of the jury on a homicide case navigating their way through the difficult decision in front of them, as they consider the evidence and struggle with the moral weight of ultimately deciding a young man’s fate.

It’s a very simple premise that leads to some incredible pieces of drama, as the group begin to second guess themselves (and each other) when they realise this may not be the open-and-shut case they first thought it was. Through the jurors re-consideration of the evidence they have heard, the audience are drip-fed information about the case, allowing us to piece things together and begin to form our own judgements about the innocence of the man on trial. There are countless twists and turns; alliances formed, breaking points reached, and the play slowly draws you in, keeping you tight in its grasp all the way until its climax.

This is without a doubt an ensemble piece, and although there are some stand-out performances and characters, every member of the cast is doing an incredible job, making each juror memorable and distinct as the story unfolds. Leading the cast is Patrick Duffy (Dallas, Man From Atlantis) who is the heart and soul of the play; portraying a sensitive, thoughtful man, encouraging his peers to fully consider the consequences of their final verdict. Tristan Gemmill (Coronation Street, Casualty) gives a powerhouse performance as Duffy’s main rival in the room, quick to dismiss any suggestion of the accused’s innocence. Ex-soapstars Gray O’Brien (Coronation Street, Peak Practice) and Michael Greco (Eastenders), along with Ben Nealon (Soldier Soldier) all give performances that excel in both comedy and drama, whilst Gary Webster (Minder, Family Affairs) offers a very naturalistic, contemplative take on his role. Rounding out the cast are Paul Beech, Samarge Hamilton, Jeffrey Harmer, Mark Heenehan, Kenneth Jay, Paul Lavers and Owen Oldroyd – who all give magnificent performances.

This cast are electric, and, through their performances, you are able to fully immerse yourself in the story. It is entirely believable that this is a group of twelve strangers that have been thrown together, and their chemistry with one another is fantastic – each playing their part to perfection and fully committing to their role and the story they are telling.

Christopher Haydon’s direction accentuates the realism of the setting and context, whilst making sure that all the key moments of the story are not lost and brought to the forefront of the audiences attention. Similarly, Michael Pavelka has designed a set that, on the surface, appears deceptively simple, with small touches like a working water cooler, a rotating air conditioning fan and running water in the sinks of the attached restroom add to that realism.

This approach allows for minor details and idiosyncrasies of the characters to shine through, as we, for example, subconsciously compare how each juror gets a cup of water from the cooler. Do they take the paper cup from the top or the bottom of the stack? Do they carefully remove it or snatch it? How fast do they drink the water? What do they do with the cup once they are finished? Such details may seem insignificant and may not even be consciously picked up on, but they all feed in to informing our perceptions of each character as we follow the play’s events.

This is absolutely a must-see show for anyone that is just a fan of a good story, as even after almost 70 years, Twelve Angry Men remains to be an incredibly captivating and thought-provoking piece of drama – proving that great theatre can be made with just a group of talented actors and brilliant script.

One of my favourite shows this year…

Twelve Angry Men is on stage at the Alexandra Theatre from until Saturday 4th November. Purchase your tickets here!

Review: Liam Tipper