I’m a huge fan of Peter James, and last night I had the pleasure of seeing Picture You Dead at the Theatre Royal Brighton, his latest stage adaptation of his 2022 bestselling novel Picture You Dead.
Picture You Dead tells the story of Harry and Freya Kipling, a regular couple from Patcham in Brighton, who pick up a cheap, plain portrait at a car boot sale for £20, primarily for the frame. But when they get it home, they realise there’s a beautiful landscape hidden underneath. Could it be a long-lost masterpiece worth millions? One collector is certain it’s the real deal—and he’ll go to any lengths to claim it. Detective Superintendent Roy Grace gets involved and quickly discovers the seedy underbelly of the fine art world, where greed and violence are never far behind. What begins as a lucky find soon turns into a nightmare for Harry and Freya.
Peter James has made a significant impact in the publishing world with his gripping crime thrillers, which have been adapted into a hugely successful ITV series starring John Simm as DS Roy Grace. Now, he’s making waves in the theatre world with Picture You Dead, marking his ninth production since 2014.
In this stage adaptation, BBC One’s Casualty star George Rainsford plays DS Roy Grace. Having won the Inside Soap Award for Best Drama Star in 2017, he brings plenty of drama to the role. Speaking of drama, Jodie Steele takes on the role of the villain Roberta Kilgore. Steele’s impressive resume includes roles such as Heather Chandler in Heathers on the West End, Katherine Howard in the SIX UK tour, and Elphaba in Wicked on both the UK and international tours. She was fantastic in this role and truly brought the villainous character to life.
Mr and Mrs Kipling are played by Ben Cutler (best known for his role as Captain Nicholls in War Horse on the West End and the UK and international tours) and Fiona Wade (most well-known for her role as Priya Sharma in ITV’s long-running drama Emmerdale). Both were convincing in their portrayal of a married couple and brought some humour to their roles (which isn’t seen in the ITV series adaptation), much to the enjoyment of both the crowd and myself.
Footballers’ Wives star Peter Ash plays the role of ex-con turned good, Dave Hegarty, while Nicholas Maude plays the role of conman-turned-still-a-con, Stuart Piper. Both characters are passionate about their art, but one takes it to the extreme. Both actors performed brilliantly, and I could easily imagine Nicholas Maude playing this character on TV.
I really liked the staging of this production. There were no revolving sets, but instead, three distinct locations on stage: the home of Mr and Mrs Kipling, Dave Hegarty’s art garage, and Stuart Piper’s home, showcasing his art collection. The lighting was used brilliantly to ensure you stayed engaged with the correct set at the right time, and the lack of moving parts made the performance feel more seamless. Some scenes could have been enhanced with additional effects, but it’s important to remember this is a theatre production, not an ITV studio!
I left the theatre with a sense of pride, having guessed a few of the twists and turns in the show. Peter James himself was in the audience and spoke for a few minutes afterward, which was a lovely touch. His passion for Brighton, where most of his books are set, and his support for the police were both very apparent.
Picture You Dead is at the Theatre Royal Brighton until Sunday 9th March 2025. Performances run on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM, with matinees on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:30 PM. Book HERE. Don’t miss out on Peter James’ latest stage thriller!!