IT may be more than 60 years since it began life as a television play but there was no doubt during the opening night of 12 Angry Men at the Lowry Theatre this court room thriller still has the power to grip an audience.

Perhaps known best as a classic film starring Hollywood legend Henry Fonda, Bill Kenwright's production returns to the theatre following a record-breaking run in the West End.

With the focus never moving away from a humid jury room in a 1954 New York court house, the 12 men sit in judgment on a young man, who we never see, accused of murdering his father.

As the play proceeds we find out more about the murder and the character of each of the jurors who are only ever referred to by number.

While its age may have meant some of the opening exchanges were a bit slow for a modern audience, drama soon builds as the juror played by Tom Conti starts to question evidence which originally seemed conclusive to the other jurors.

The play is brilliantly written by Reginald Rose with hardly a word wasted in the taut script and this version is cleverly staged by director Christopher Haydon.

A large chunk of the audience will have no doubt been keen to see one of the country's most respected actors in the form of Conti but former soap star Andrew Lancel also gave an enthralling performance as hothead juror number three.

It was a hit film but the immediacy of live theatre makes the ideal vehicle for this tense drama.

See it if you can.

12 Angry Men runs at The Lowry Theatre until Saturday.