The world premiere stage production of Looking Good Dead tours to Bath

A new stage production of Peter James’ bestselling novel Looking Good Dead tours to the Theatre Royal Bath from Monday 18th to Saturday 23rd October starring award-winning actor Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale in EastEnders) as Tom Bryce and screen favourite Gaynor Faye (Emmerdale, Coronation Street, The Syndicate) as Kellie Bryce. Adapted by writer Shaun McKenna and directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, the world premiere stage production is set to keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the chilling final moments.

No good deed goes unpunished… Hours after picking up a USB memory stick left behind on a train seat, Tom Bryce inadvertently becomes a witness to a vicious murder. Reporting the crime to the police has disastrous consequences, placing him and his family in grave danger. When Detective Superintendent Roy Grace becomes involved, he has his own demons to contend with while he tries to crack the case in time to save the Bryce family’s lives.

Adam Woodyatt is the longest serving cast member in EastEnders having appeared continuously as Ian Beale since the show began in 1985. For his portrayal of the role he was honoured in 2013 with the Lifetime Achievement Award and, in 2015, after the EastEnders 30th Anniversary Live episode, won Best Actor at the British Soap Awards. Looking Good Dead marks Adam’s return to the stage in a play for the first time since 1982 as a 13-year-old at the National Theatre in Tom Stoppard’s On The Razzle. In addition to EastEnders, Adam has appeared as a guest on many television programmes including Robot Wars, Dream House, A Question of Sport, presented The National Lottery draw live and was a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef 2019. He has also previously appeared on stage in the pantomimes Peter Pan, Snow White, Aladdin, Mother Goose and Cinderella. 

Gaynor Faye played the role of Megan Macey in Emmerdale for seven years. She is also well-known for playing Judy Mallett in Coronation Street for five years and most recently played Cheryl Armitage in the BBC1 drama The Syndicate. Her other numerous television credits include Fat Friends, The Chase, Dani’s House, Between The Sheets and Playing The Field. Gaynor’s stage credits include the UK premiere tour of Band of Gold in 2020, the original West End production of Calendar Girls, which toured to the Theatre Royal Bath in 2008, Jonathan Harvey’s comedy play Corrie! and Wuthering Heights for Hull Truck.

The cast of Looking Good Dead is completed by Harry Long as Roy Grace, Ian Houghton as Jonas, Leon Stewart as Branson, Gemma Stroyan as Bella, Luke Ward-Wilkinson as Max Bryce, Mylo McDonald as Mick and Natalie Boakye as Janie.

Looking Good Dead is the fifth novel by Peter James to be brought to the stage. It follows four other successful stage adaptations of his books including Dead Simple starring Tina Hobley in 2015 and The Perfect Murder starring Les Dennis and Claire Goose in 2014, both of which played Bath’s Theatre Royal. In addition, stage productions have toured the UK of Peter James’ The House on Cold Hill starring Joe McFadden and Rita Simons in 2019; Not Dead Enough starring Shane Richie and Laura Whitmore in 2017; and The Perfect Murder starring Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace in 2016.

Peter James is a number one bestselling author of crime and thriller novels and the creator of the much-loved Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, now a major ITV series, Grace. He has topped The Sunday Times Bestseller List eighteen times and has achieved global book sales of over 21 million copies which have been translated into 37 languages. Synonymous with plot twisting page turners, he has garnered an army of loyal fans throughout his storytelling career which also included writing for television and producing films. He has won over 40 awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award, Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger and a BAFTA nomination for The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons for which he was an Executive Producer. 

Looking Good Dead is produced by Joshua Andrews and Peter James and has been adapted for the stage by Shaun McKenna. An award-winning British dramatist, Shaun’s previous theatre credits include Ladies in Lavender, the Lord of The Rings musical and Peter James’ The Perfect Murder, Dead Simple, Not Dead Enough and The House on Cold Hill. Looking Good Dead is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, designed by Michael Holt with lighting design by Jason Taylor. The composer and sound designer is Max Pappenheim.

Looking Good Dead appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Monday 18th October to Saturday 23rd October. Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk