An old-fashioned crime thriller with twists and turns at every corner is always a winner with theatre audiences.
And crime writer Peter James’s Picture You Dead showing at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow proved to have everyone on the edge of their seats.
The plot adapted by Shaun McKenna with direction from Jonathan O’Boyle is a simple one. DSI Roy Grace (George Rainsford) is called to investigate a cold case of murder connected to the art community.
What at first seems a simple case, turns complex as forgeries throw spanners in the works and hapless humans make everything appear complicated.
The story begins with Harry (Ben Cutler) and Freya (Fiona Wade) Kipling (not related to the exceedingly good cake man, as we are often reminded), who pick up an old painting at a car boot sale.
It’s dark and dirty and in need of a clean-up, so they contact Dave Hegarty (Mark Oxtoby), who Harry has done building work for, and he tells them how to unravel the layers.
As they peel away the years, the couple wonder if the painting is worth a bob or two and so they take it an Antiques Roadshow programme and are advised by art expert Oliver De Souza (Adam Morris) to get it valued as it could be an original by French artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard and worth thousands as a copy or millions if it’s the real deal.
This leads to lots of spills and thrills as the dark underworld of art starts to come alive with dodgy dealer Stuart Piper (Ore Oduba) determined to get his hands on the painting with help from ruthless consultant Roberta Kilgore (Jodie Steele) and small time criminal Archie Goff (Sean Jones).
Grace and his chocolate eating sidekick Bella Moy (Gemma Stroyan) have their hands full trying to solve the crime as every time they think they have a lead; another clue pops up.
There are solid performances from the cast and designers Adrian Linford, Jason Taylor and Max Pappenheim have the set, lighting and music just right for the play.
It’s a Whodunnit, you think you’ve worked out until the full frame of what’s going on suddenly unravels and it’s quite a surprise!
Picture You Dead runs at Glasgow until 14th June and then moves to Bath from 17th to 21st June, Birmingham, 24th to 28th June, Truro, 1st to 5th July, Bradford, 8th to 12th July, Worthing, 15th to 19th July and finally Southend from 22nd to 26th 2025.
For more information. show times and ticket availability please visit: www.peterjames.com and www.atgtickets.com.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs by Chris Bishop
Be the first to comment