Adapted from the UK’s number one crime writer Peter James’ bestselling novel about Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, Picture You Dead, tours to the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st June with the cast led by Ore Oduba (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Strictly Come Dancing), Fiona Wade (Emmerdale, 2:22 A Ghost Story) and George Rainsford (Casualty, Call the Midwife).
Set in Brighton, Picture You Dead sees DSI Grace investigate a cold case that leads him to the rarified air of fine art, but beneath the respectable veneer lurks a murky 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.
Actor, presenter and Strictly Come Dancing champion Ore Oduba stars as Stuart Piper, an eccentric millionaire art collector who gets tangled up in the dark underworld of stolen art. Ore joined the cast of Picture You Dead last month, direct from starring as Caractacus Potts in the 2025 UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He also recently played Brad Majors in the 50th anniversary production of The Rocky Horror Show in the West End and on tour. He has performed in the Kander and Ebb musical Curtains in the West End and on tour and appeared in Grease and Pretty Woman: The Musical. Ore made his screen acting debut in the BBC One primetime drama Noughts + Crosses. As a presenter, his many credits include This Morning and The One Show; whilst on BBC Radio 2 he has fronted some of the biggest national events live to millions. Ore won the 14th series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2016.
Ore Oduba said: “I’m so excited to become part of the fantastic cast of Picture You Dead. I’ve watched their excellent performances in front of a packed house and seen audiences have a fabulous time watching the show. It’s great fun and full of twists and turns, comedy and shocks! I am thrilled to be in it.”
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Gemma Stroyan as Bella Moy, George Rainsford as DSI Roy Grace and Ore Oduba as Stuart Piper in Picture You Dead (Photo credit: Chris Bishop)
Fiona Wade plays Freya Kipling, who naively attracts the attention of dodgy dealers after buying a potentially multi-million-pound masterpiece at a car boot sale. Best known on television for her role as Priya Sharma in ITV’s long-running drama Emmerdale, her many screen credits also include Grange Hill, Where The Heart Is, Doctors, Silent Witness, Tracy Beaker Returns and Law & Order: UK. She recently toured the UK in the hit play 2:22 A Ghost Story, and earlier this year appeared in the highly anticipated Fox comedy series, Going Dutch. Fiona’s stage roles also include the title role of Kim in Miss Saigon in the West End.
George Rainsford returns to the role of Peter James’ protagonist DSI Roy Grace, which he first played in the 2023 stage production of Wish You Were Dead. One of the nation’s favourite TV doctors after playing Ethan Hardy in more than 300 episodes of BBC1’s Casualty, George won
the Inside Soap Award for Best Drama Star in 2017. His many screen roles also include Luke in Waking the Dead, Jimmy in Call the Midwife and JJ Bell in Doctors. His stage credits include All’s Well That Ends Well at the National Theatre; Love, Love, Love and The Changing Room at the Royal Court; Significance at the RSC, and The Three Musketeers at Bristol Old Vic.
West End favourite Jodie Steele (Bonnie & Clyde, Wicked, Heathers, SIX) stars as the heartless villain, Roberta Kilgore. She returns to the Theatre Royal after previously touring to Bath in SIX in 2020 and Filumena in 2024.
Never seen before on stage or screen, Picture You Dead’s story was inspired when Peter James met real-life former master art forger, and now acclaimed copyist, David Henty. Henty was arrested in the 1990s for forging passports and learnt how to copy major artworks while in prison. Mark Oxtoby plays David Hegarty – based on Henty – he has history with DSI Roy Grace, having previously been nicked for forgery. Hegarty is now a reformed man but maintains an air of intrigue.
The cast also features Ben Cutler as Harry Kipling, Gemma Stroyan as Bella Moy, Adam Morris as Oliver De Souza and Sean Jones as Archie Goff.
Roy Grace is a crime fiction phenomenon. The books have sold over 23 million copies worldwide, been previously adapted for six hugely successful stage productions, and transformed into ITV's critically acclaimed drama, GRACE.
Peter James said: “It is truly incredible for me to see the seventh stage adaptation of my books. I am so grateful to the hundreds of thousands of people around the UK who have come to their local theatre and enjoyed the plays over the last 10 years. Now that I have seen Picture You Dead performed, I am thrilled to say I think this new play is the best one so far!”
Picture You Dead is the seventh Peter James book to be adapted for the stage by Shaun McKenna. An award-winning British dramatist, Shaun’s recent theatre credits include Ladies in Lavender; book and lyrics for the musical of JRR Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings with Matthew Warchus, which is currently on world tour; The Forsyte Saga, which enjoyed an acclaimed run at London’s Park Theatre, and Peter James’ Wish You Were Dead, Looking Good Dead, The Perfect Murder, Dead Simple, Not Dead Enough and The House on Cold Hill. Picture You Dead is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, who previously directed two Peter James stage adaptations, Wish You Were Dead in 2023 and Looking Good Dead in 2021-2022.
Picture You Dead appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st June. To book tickets contact the Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit theatreroyal.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
For further information, contact:
Emma McDermott, Publicity Manager, Theatre Royal Bath emma.mcdermott@theatreroyal.org.uk
or
Charlie Smith, Marketing and Press Assistant, Theatre Royal Bath, charlie.smith@theatreroyal.org.uk
Listings Information:
Picture You Dead
Written by Peter James, Adapted for the stage by Shaun McKenna
Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle
Starring Ore Oduba, Fiona Wade, George Rainsford, Jodie Steele, Mark Oxtoby,
Ben Cutler, Gemma Stroyan, Adam Morris, Sean Jones
Venue: Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath, BA1 1ET
Dates: Tuesday 17th June to Saturday 21st June 2025
Performances: Evenings: Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Matinees: Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm
Tickets: £10 - £46.50 (Booking fee applies)
Box Office: 01225 448844, theatreroyal.org.uk
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