Review: Twelve Angry Men, Theatre Royal Bath – ‘Genuinely electrifying’

Who wants a bit of danger with their theatre? Main house touring shows aren’t known for taking risks with their audiences – but what is theatre for, if not for live jeopardy?

Twelve Angry Men is a play born of a 1954 TV-play, which in turn became a very famous film. When a show (like so many these days) reaches our theatres under so many expectations of ‘we know what we’re gonna get’, it’s inevitable that some of the spontaneity and danger that only theatre offers gets politely polished away.

But not so last night at Theatre Royal Bath! This touring show’s local opening night was horribly marred from the outset by the migrainy-buzz of electronic feedback (through a mic and/or the speakers).

For 25 minutes, the cast gamely struggled on, until – to everyone’s clear relief – a wise member of TRB’s excellent in-house team walked on-stage, halting Patrick Duffy and a busy cast to beg our indulgence while they tried to solve the problem. Cue applause. And when he came back 10 minutes later, our collected breath was well-baited: the problem wasn’t fixed! So they’d pull the interval forwards, fix it, then do a straight (90 minute) run-through. Drama? Heck, yes!

The cast of Twelve Angry Men

And what a show they all delivered. The cast – surely a little deflated?! – sprang into life with incredible energy. Patrick Duffy went mic-less, and at first was hard to hear (but I hope audible in the distant seats), but he pulled it off, and – surrounded by a superb ensemble – the whole production was genuinely electrifying.

Twelve Angry Men starts with the judge’s direction to this jury: you must agree unanimously. This murder charge must carry the death sentence. Locked in the jury room, they appoint a foreman and agree a show of hands. Only one juror (Duffy) doesn’t vote ‘guilty’ – he doesn’t know enough yet and that’s not enough to send a man to the chair.

During the course of the play, each piece of evidence, each individual’s convictions, and even the weaknesses of the system (a cheap, overworked state defence lawyer) and the subconscious drivers of the witnesses (loneliness, frailty) comes under the careful consideration of first Duffy, and then the others.

Tristan Gemmill as Juror 3 and the cast

It is a heartbreaking play that’s also – vitally – timeless. We all short-cut our decision-making. We all unconsciously seek to soothe ourselves, fulfill our own needs, by making decisions that confirm our unwitting biases. One prejudice that’s seems doomed to be always with us is racism. Its ugly hold over one juror gets full exposure. This makes for a hard watch, but it’s as important to witness that today as it was in 1954.

Racism isn’t the only threat to justice this outstanding production reminds us of – culture wars, class-suspicion, anti-education (there are no women – but that’s a ‘what if’ we don’t have space for), intellectual pride – they all undermine our objectivity.

Christopher Haydon’s direction is excellent; Michael Pavelka’s design without fault. The lighting (Chris Dave’s) and sound (Andy Graham) create a wholly immersive world (watch out for some very smart work with the central table which compounds our sense of being part of the action). Every single one of the cast is a case-study in ensemble work; I would watch this thrice over just to spend more time with each one.

Congratulations to all. Now, readers, go and book.

Patrick Duffy as Juror 8, Tristan Gemmill as Juror 3 and Company

Twelve Angry Men is at Theatre Royal Bath on November 27-December 2 at 7.30pm, with additional 2.30pm matinee shows on Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets are available at www.theatreroyal.org.uk.

All photos: Jack Merriman

Read more: Review: Quiz, Theatre Royal Bath – ‘This is what theatre is about’

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