Twelve Angry Men at Derby Theatre Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Louise Edwards
Do you enjoy a slice of American courtroom thriller drama? Who doesn’t!?
This week, after a West End hit run, Twelve Angry Men is showing at Derby Theatre as part of a national tour. Based on the 1957 film of the same name and adapted for stage by Reginald Rose, audiences are in for a treat!
Set in New York on a hot summer day, we see the 12 jurors listen to the closing speeches in a case where a boy is suspected of murdering his father by stabbing him in the chest. There has to be a unanimous guilty verdict or there will be a retrial.
The jurors are all numbered, no names given, as they enter the room where they will make their decision. The Foreman, played by Owen Oldroyd, takes a vote on the verdict. 11 men think guilty but 1 has doubts. Juror 8, played by Jason Merrels (Emerdale, Waterloo Road) is not convinced that there is enough evidence to send the 16 year old in the docks to the electric chair which would be his sentence.
Until this moment, it had appeared to be an open and closed case with evidence mounting against the accused. He had a motive as he was often beaten and neglected by his bullying father. However, the jurors see their evening plans of baseball games and dinners out being cancelled as they settle in for a night of debate, as none of them wanting to admit to a hung verdict.
Directed by Christopher Haydon, this stellar cast, with many household names such as Michael Greco (Eastenders), Paul Lavers, Tristan Gemmill (Casualty), Mark Heenehan (Napoleon), Samarge Hamilton (Holby City), Gary Webster (Eastenders), Paul Beech, Gray O’Brien (Coronation Street), Kenneth Jay, Ben Nealon and Jeffrey Harmer, are all incredible actors of stage and screen and create a very believable scene.
One by one they listen to the argument to cast doubt on the guilty verdict and their initial feelings are questioned. Prejudices and assumptions are challenged as emotions run high. Tension is palpable and the audience spellbound as the drama unfolds. Can you really trust the words of the witnesses who all may have ulterior motives in giving their evidence, caught up by the drama of the case?
Stage designer, Michael Pavelka, sound designer Andy Graham and Lighting Designer, Chris Davey pulled out the stops to create the atmosphere of a stifling New York court juror room with water cooler, broken fan and city centre street background noises.
A thoroughly engrossing and captivating evening at the theatre which is both thought provoking and timeless.
Derby Theatre is located in the Derbion shopping centre and there is handy parking and public transport close by. The theatre sells hot and cold snack and has a bar and refreshments available.
Rating: 5/5
Showing at Derby Theatre until Saturday 3 February 2024. Tickets cost from £28,
For more information or to book tickets, please visit Derby Theatre’s website here: https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/twelve-angry-men/