TWELVE Angry Men left a packed house at Bath’s Theatre Royal beaming with delight as they walked into the night air.

The powerful production of Reginald Rose’s dramatic juryroom drama about whether this group of strangers, brought together to decide whether a teenger accused of killing his father is sent to electric chair or not, was hailed as of the West End’s best when it played to sell-out audiences at the Garrick Theatre.

And, with a multi-award winning cast, lead by Tom Conti, playing the role of Juror Number Eight made famous in the incredible 1957 film adaptation by Sidney Lumet that starred Henry Fonda, the production was off to a flying start before the curtain had been raised.

There are no scenes inside the court itself but the evidence is disclosed through discussions and arguments that almost come to blows between the dozen men who must reach a unanimous verdict one way or the other.

Conti’s character is the only one who initially votes not guilty are sent to consider their verdict. Some of the other 12 men are happy to send the 16-year-old to die as long as they can make the decision quick. “We have other things to do,” says one. “I have tickets for the ball game,” says another.

Juror Eight is not saying that he believes the teenager is innocent but that they should discuss the case before sending him to the chair.

Slowly but surely the jurors views change – but one remains convinced of the teenager’s guilt and will not move on that stance whatever evidence is opened to the contrary.

The mood changes and positions switch – and the brilliance stage management of director Christopher Haydon and producer Bill Kenwright in this production sees the table of five seats either side and one at each end slowly turn a slow full circle over the course of the two hour performance. It was a visual metaphor of how the juror’s own minds were turning.

One of the most powerful and dazzling performances was from Andrew Lancel, that stubborn man who believes the accused is guilty no matter what. His conflict with Conti’s character, their head to head which erupts, at one stage, into a threat that Juror Three will ‘kill’ number two, is brilliant and dramatic theatre.

There are more twists and turns than up Frocester Hill in Dursley and the tension gripped the packed audience to the end.

Small wonder that this production of Twelve Angry Men has been so acclaimed.  The Theatre Royal have brought a theatrical masterpiece in all aspects to Bath. It is a theatrical triumph and a drama that you would have great pleasure in rewinding and watching all over again.

Incredible!