The world premiere production is the seventh stage adaptation based on Peter James’ novels.
Casting has now been announced for Picture You Dead, which has been adapted for the stage by Shaun McKenna and is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle who has previously directed two Peter James stage adaptations, Wish You Were Dead (2023) and Looking Good Dead (2021-2022).
It has been confirmed that Peter Ash (Coronation Street, War Horse) will star alongside Fiona Wade( Emmerdale, 2:22 A Ghost Story) Jodie Steele (Bonnie & Clyde, Wicked, Heathers, SIX) and George Rainsford, (Casualty, Call the Midwife and All’s Well That Ends Well at the National Theatre) will also return to playDSI Roy Grace, which he played in the 2023 production of Wish You Were Dead.
Peter James said: “It is truly incredible for me to see the seventh stage adaptation of my books coming to theatres in 2025. I am so grateful to the hundreds of thousands of people around the country who have come to their local theatre and enjoyed the plays over the last ten years, and I am thrilled to tell you all that personally, I think this brand new play, is the best one so far! On top of that, I could not be more delighted by the fantastic cast that we have assembled to star in the World Premiere production of Picture You Dead – they are all brilliant actors and it’s going to be a great and thrilling night at the theatre!”
The story of Picture You Dead was inspired by Peter’s meeting with real life art forger and now acclaimed copyist, David Henty.
DSI Grace investigates a cold case that leads him to the rarified air of fine art, but beneath the respectable veneer lurks a dark underworld of greed, deception and murder. When an unsuspecting couple unwittingly buy a potentially long-lost masterpiece in a car boot sale, they discover that their dream find is about to turn into their worst nightmare and only Grace can stop them from paying the ultimate price.
The production will open its world premiere UK tour at High Wycombe on 6 February 2025, before visiting Woking, Southampton, Brighton, Nottingham, Richmond, Malvern, Norwich, Salford, Shrewsbury, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, New Brighton, Cheltenham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Bath, Birmingham, Truro, Bradford and culminating in Southend on 26 July 2025.
For more information visit: https://www.peterjames.com/plays/picture-you-dead/