The American drama Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose premiered last night on the stage of the National Theatre under the direction of Albert Minga. The production drew particular interest from the public, with tickets selling out in record time.

Director Albert Minga stated to the media that he chose to stage this work for the strength of its messages, which he believes resonate deeply with the Albanian social context.

The play centers on the deliberations of a jury in a murder trial, where twelve men must decide the fate of a teenager accused of killing his abusive father. Initially, nearly all jurors are convinced of the boy’s guilt, influenced by their backgrounds and personal biases. However, one juror dissents, declaring the defendant “not guilty” and planting the seed of reasonable doubt. Over time, he persuades the others to look beyond their prejudices and to reach a unanimous verdict of acquittal.

The cast featured some of the most acclaimed actors of the Albanian stage, including Viktor Zhusti, Niko Kanxheri, Alfred Trebicka, Sokol Angjeli, Ligoraq Riza, Myzafer Zifla, Neritan Liçaj, Lulzim Zeqja, Besmir Bitraku, Florian Agalliu, Donald Shehu, and Igli Zarka.

Twelve Angry Men was first staged in San Francisco in 1955. It originally aired as a television drama, later adapted into a celebrated film and subsequently a Broadway stage production.

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