Picture You Dead

Roy Grace returns to the stage in Picture You Dead, the seventh theatrical adaptation of a Peter James novel.

With a top-tier cast including George Rainsford as Grace, Peter Ash, Fiona Wade, and Jodie Steele, this crime caper promises intrigue and suspense—but ends up leaning more towards the delightfully daft.

The plot, revolving around a priceless painting bought at a car boot sale, plunges quickly into forgery, deception and a touch of chaos that wouldn't feel out of place in an episode of 'Allo 'Allo! There are plenty of twists, but most of them can be spotted a mile off—making this more of a comfortably familiar whodunnit than a gripping thriller.

That said, the cast are entirely convincing, with George Rainsford bringing a calm gravitas to Grace and Jodie Steele a scene-stealing energy as Roberta Kilgore. There are genuinely funny lines peppered throughout (yes, even Liz Truss gets a namecheck), and fans of James' books will be pleased with the stage rendition. And yes—someone does say the title of the play out loud, just as predicted!

It might not be groundbreaking, but Picture You Dead is a fun, fast-paced evening that will entertain anyone who enjoys a blend of crime and comedy. Recommended for Peter James fans and anyone who likes their detective stories with a touch of the absurd.