Review by Marilyn Barber

And they are. Angry. Very at times, but that all adds to the tension of this court room play.

Hailed as ‘the classiest, most intelligent drama playing on the West End’ it is based on the 1957 three-time Academy Award nominated film which starred Henry Fonda.

The jury are sent out to decide the fate of a 16-year-old boy who was accused of killing his father.

Eleven men declare him guilty. However, one juror argues that he didn’t think it was an open and shut case and that they should discuss it in depth.

Jason Merrells, who appeared in Emmerdale and Casualty, plays that man with passion and commitment, a foil against those who vehemently disagree.

None more so than the juror played by Tristan Gemmill (Coronation Street and Casualty), who puts such energy into the part that you feel he is going to explode.

Other well known faces include Michael Greco, Ben Nealon, Garry Webster and Gray O’Brien.

Being 1950s America, the jury is all male, but it gives the chance for actors of all ages to have a role – and they were all hugely accomplished performers.

It’s a joy to watch a play where every single actor inhabits their characters 100 per cent of the time, so much so, that their passion spreads to the audience.

I was there on Tuesday when the weather was doing its worst, but people hadn’t been deterred and it was a full house.

The audience applause at the end showed that everyone felt it was an evening well spent. It runs until this Saturday. See if you can get a ticket.