Queen Elizabeth II had barely been on the throne six months, German accents were still regarded with great suspicion and women weren't to be trusted.
Well, what's changed since 1953? Er, the Queen's been ruling us a lot longer than six months.
When Agatha Christie broke her usual mould and set this murder mystery in an actual courtroom rather than some isolated country house populated middle to upper class society, such an insight into the workings of the British justice system was a rarity.
These days, of course, television has made even the more legally upright of us quite au fait with courtrooms – whether the bewigged and robed British ones or the sexier American versions.
Witness For the Prosecution is very much the former – Peter Byrne's Judge Wainwright every bit the bewildered judiciary ("what, prey, is a strawberry blonde"), Denis Lill an old school misogynist barrister ("ungrateful beasts – women") and Mark Wynter a typical 50s prosecutor – with anyone guilty until proved innocent. Cherubic Bean Nealon is in the dock for allegedly murdering the "old lady" (she was 56!) Emily French he had befriended and inheriting all her money - and we are left to decide whether he is an innocent victim of other people's plots (faithful but disinherited retainer and seemingly unfaithful wife) or guilty as sin (he's lost his job, got blood on his sleeve and has been planning a luxury cruise).
A solid set, a typically complex Christie plot and a refreshingly full stage will please all fans of the genre.
It runs until Saturday.
Robin Duke