Twelve Angry Men

by Reginald Rose
translated and directed by Nelson Chia

Singtel Waterfront Theatre, Singapore

Reginald Rose's courtroom drama is given an electric retelling in this taut, gripping and layered production translated and directed by Nelson Chia and presented by Nine Years Theatre. 

It's a production that soars through its shouting and silences, unexpected humour and deep flashes of humanity. Chia is in perfect control of the material, balancing textual fidelity with delicate observational heft and showing us how these twelve men are forced to examine their own lives even as they decide the fate of another's. He extracts rich performances all round with standout turns by Danny Yeo, Tay Kong Hui and Ryan Ang. 

It's complemented by strong production values with a clean, elegant set by Wong Chee Waou, stylish period costumes by Anthony Tan and evocative lighting and sound design by Genevieve Peck and Jing Ng. 

Photo Credit: Nine Years Theatre

I've enjoyed NYT's Mandarin versions of world classics over the years and this is the company at its finest, blending great storytelling with solid theatrical craft. Missed the original staging 12 years ago and I'm really glad I managed to catch this sold-out show. One of the best I've seen this year.

The Crystalwords score: 4.5/5