Following a recording-breaking West End season, this powerful production of Twelve Angry Men is back in session - and it's an innovative take on a production reliant on situation.

Twelve Angry Men brings the three-time Academy Award nominated 1957 film to the stage with an ensemble cast of jurors, tasked with deciding the fate of a young delinquent accused of killing his father.

However, what appears to be an open and shut case soon becomes a huge dilemma, as prejudices and preconceived ideas about the accused, the trial and each other turn the tables every which way.

The story begins after closing arguments have been presented in the case, as the judge is giving his instructions to the jury. As in most American criminal cases, the jury must unanimously decide on a verdict of 'guilty' or 'not guilty' - however extra pressure is added when they are further instructed that a guilty verdict will be accompanied by a mandatory death sentence.

In the jury room, the first vote is a nearly unanimous decision of guilty but a single undecided member sows a seed of reasonable doubt, which - as is often the case - results in a number fo the others questioning their understanding of proceedings. The question is - can that single difference of opinion turn round eleven others?

When I say this production is reliant on situation, what we're presented with is a single scene, following the discussions of the jurors over a period of time. The passing of time is cleverly depicted by a revolve in the centre of the stage, which turns the table the jurors are seated at; one full rotation of the scene is the period of time for deliberation. By a sheer stroke of genius, the movement of the revolve is tediously slow but once you spot it you realise immediately that its demonstration of the passage of time is a sublime way of pacing the action.

However, probably more than many of its contemporaries, this piece is all about the cast.

Jason Merrells is our undecided juror and the lynchpin who keeps the production moving. Constantly questioning and theorising, he is superb throughout - and alongside Tristan Gemmill, arguably his polar opposite, the chemistry on stage is palpable. Depicting perfectly the flaws of a man who lets his own perceptions override logic, many of their scenes together consist of Merrells setting up Gemmill for a fall - and the duo's slick, well-rehearsed nature makes it look effortless!

However, where this cast's strengths lie is as a team. Rarely are there points where all twelve aren't on stage together and it's that individuality mixed with the pressure-cooker environment which makes this production compulsive viewing.

Twelve Angry Men plays at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until 12th May 2024. For more information, or to get your tickets, head to grandtheatre.co.uk.