A multi star cast has been announced for the world premiere of the brand-new stage production, Picture You Dead – adapted from the bestselling novel of the UK's number one crime writer Peter James – which opens in High Wycombe on 6 February 2025.

2024 National Television Award winning actor Peter Ash (Coronation Street, ITV; War Horse, UK tour) will play Stuart Piper, alongside Fiona Wade (Emmerdale, ITV; 2:22 A Ghost Story, UK tour) as Freya Kipling, West End favourite Jodie Steele (Bonnie & Clyde; Heathers, West End) as Roberta Kilgore, and one of the nation’s favourite TV doctors, George Rainsford (Casualty; Call the Midwife, BBC), will return to reprise the role of Peter James’ famous literary detective, DSI Roy Grace, which he played in the 2023 hit production of Wish You Were Dead. From 20 May 2025, Ore Oduba (Pretty Woman, Rocky Horror Show), will take over from Peter Ash as Stuart Piper.

The world premiere of Picture You Dead is the seventh Peter James book to be adapted for the stage by award-winning writer Shaun McKenna and is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle.

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 10 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. Set in Brighton, 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.

Following High Wycombe, the production will visit Woking, Southampton, Brighton, Nottingham, Richmond, Malvern, Norwich, Salford, Shrewsbury, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, New Brighton, Cheltenham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Bath, Birmingham, Truro, Bradford, and Southend.

To book tickets for Picture You Dead at select touring venues, please click here.