Play by Reginald Rose Teaching Activities by Rivka Lewenstein

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TWELVE ANGRY MEN
© 2011. A.E.L. Publications

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1
After the Play
6.
(Group work) Prepare a playscript of the boy’s trial up until the time that 
Twelve 
Angry Men
begins. This should include the testimonies of the old man, one of the 
neighbors down the hall, the woman across the street, and the shopkeeper, as well 
as the prosecution and defense’s arguments. Then act it out for your class or act 
it out and film it (approximately 20 to 25 minutes of speaking), with your group 
members filling the six main roles (four witnesses, the prosecutor, and the boy’s 
lawyer).
Remember that:
• The trial took a week, but you are of course not expected to stretch it out that 
long …
• The witnesses don’t just get up and tell their whole story. The prosecutor asks 
each witness questions and he / she answers each question until the whole story 
is told. Afterwards, the defense may or may not cross-examine the witness 
(ask additional questions to prove that the witness’ testimony was inaccurate, 
incomplete, or false). At the end of the trial, the prosecution and defense both 
give summarizing arguments.
• When acting out the trial, pay attention to the small details given in the play. For 
example, the old man should be dressed as NINE describes him in the play. 
• The defense attorney in 
Twelve Angry Men
did not ask all the questions that he 
should have.
SAMPLE PAGE FROM 
TWELVE ANGRY MEN
© 2011. A.E.L. Publications

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Twelve Angry Men
2
Reflection
Answer at least three of the questions in writing (approximately 150 words