Film and TV writer Reginald Rose’s teleplay Twelve Angry Men has inspired many stage adaptations around the world, besides a critically acclaimed movie in 1957 and a TV movie in 1997, both by the same name.
Now, popular Kolkata-based
theatre
group, Theatrician, is set to stage its version of the courtroom drama, called 12 Angry Jurors, in the city this week.
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Premiering in Kolkata in 2012, Theatrician’s adaptation is set in ’50s Bengal, and will throw light on various issues like communal harmony, political beliefs and class systems.
Talking about the drama, director Tathagata Chowdhury says, "My intention was to explore the content beyond the thriller. It’s not just another whodunnit or murder mystery. It’s an intense philosophical take on our pride and prejudices arising from our origin. At the core, the play is about the power of conviction. One man actually convinces 11 others to change their conviction to his."
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The play will have live music along with mime and Kathak performances infused into the script.
"We are a team of 20, with a mime artiste who performs several flashback scenes. The audience must watch out for a Kathak performer who binds the various acts together," says Chowdhury.