Following on from five hit stage shows and the new acclaimed ITV series, Grace, the work of best selling author, Peter James returns to Mayflower Theatre, with the world premiere stage adaption of Wish You Were Dead.
An all star cast includes George Rainsford, who returns to the stage after eight years as Ethan Hardy in BBC One’s Casualty and Clive Mantle, much loved for many roles including Casualty, Game of Thrones and the iconic ‘puddle’ scene in Vicar of Dibley.
When Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and Cleo Morey take their first holiday together, they hope for a few days away from their dark worlds of murder and the mortuary. But their dream escape turns out to be the holiday from hell.
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Adapted exclusively for the stage, Wish You Were Dead is the latest thrilling instalment of the Grace Series – the most successful modern day crime stage franchise, since Agatha Christie.
George Rainsford is treading the boards for the first time in a decade, after 300 episodes of Casualty and a previous stint in Call the Midwife.
He said: "It's good to be part of an ensemble again. I’ve always enjoyed the live element of doing a play, the audience reaction, the adrenalin it generates and so on. And the reaction we are getting from audiences so far on the tour has been amazing. They seem to be loving it!
"It’s a fantastic role, something I can really get my teeth into. Roy has to use all his wits to ensure his loved ones come to no harm. It’s full of surprises. I think audiences like being scared. Hearing the audience jump and gasp each night is great! But it’s also great fun – there’s quite a bit of dark comedy."
Previous James novels brought to the stage include: 'Looking Good Dead’ starring Adam Woodyatt and Gaynor Faye and 'The Perfect Murder' starring Les Dennis and Claire Goose, both big successes in Southampton.
Wish You Were Dead is in Southampton from June 6 to 10.
Tickets from mayflower.org.uk
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