Following the success of the latest ITV Grace series, fans of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace can look forward to a brand-new stage adaptation of Picture You Dead, set to premiere in 2025.
The new production stars presenter and Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba (Pretty Woman, The Rocky Horror Show), alongside Fiona Wade, best known for her long-running role in Emmerdale and more recently 2:22 A Ghost Story. George Rainsford (Casualty, Call the Midwife) reprises his role as Roy Grace, having previously led the 2023 stage hit Wish You Were Dead.
Set in Brighton, Picture You Dead sees DSI Grace drawn into the high-stakes world of fine art. What begins as a cold case investigation soon reveals a dangerous underworld of fraud and murder. When a couple stumble upon what appears to be a valuable painting, their lucky find quickly turns into a deadly game—and only Grace stands between them and disaster.
The story is based on an idea sparked by a meeting between author Peter James and real-life art forger David Henty, now a respected copyist.
Peter James said: “It is truly incredible for me to see the seventh stage adaptation of my books coming to theatres in 2025. I’m thrilled by the cast we’ve assembled and I genuinely think this is the best play yet. I’m so grateful to everyone who’s come to see the plays over the last 10 years.”
With 20 Sunday Times bestsellers to his name, James’s Grace series is now the most successful modern-day crime stage franchise since Agatha Christie. Picture You Dead has been adapted by Shaun McKenna and is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, who also directed Wish You Were Dead and Looking Good Dead.
The production arrives at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 June. Tickets are available via the Box Office, by phone on 0114 249 6000, or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.
