Following the ITV series ‘Grace’ based on the UK’s crime author Peter James’ novels, producer Joshua Andrews has announced the stage premier of James’ novel: Wish You Were Dead’.
This is the sixth stage adaptation of Peter James’ novels which makes it the most successful crime stage franchise since the famous Agatha Christie. Wish You Were Dead will play Cardiff’s New Theatre in May 2023,
The TV series ‘Grace’ enjoyed success with audiences when in 2021 it first launched on ITV. It managed to reach 9 million viewers proving that James’ novels enjoy successful adaptations. Season 2 was released on ITV in Spring and now a third season has been announced.
The play itself follows DSI Roy Grace and Cleo Morey as they take a holiday. Cleo hopes to finally get Grace to herself for a few days and away from his crime solving exploits. But their dream escape turns to hell as the past comes back to haunt them.
The adaptation is done by award winning writer Shaun McKenna who has done five Peter James plays before. It will also be reuniting the creative team behind the James play ‘Looking Good for Dead’ with Jonathan O’Boyle as a director. Design by Michael Holt, Lighting by Jason Taylor and Max Pappenheim behind sound.
Peter James himself says: “I have always loved live theatre, so it’s been thrilling to watch how much audiences around the UK have loved the plays. Theatre and the escapism it provides us all is so important – particularly now.
“Inside the safe cocoon of a theatre, audiences love to be on the edge of their seats and sometimes shocked, always hoping when that final curtain falls,
order will have been restored and the world will seem just a little bit of a better place.
“I am incredibly grateful for the support regional theatres and their audiences have shown our plays and it will be fantastic to see another one of my books being adapted for the stage – the sixth one! – and audiences enjoying it, in 2023.”
- Wish You Were Dead will visit Cardiff’s New Theatre from May 16 – 20, 2023. For ticket availability visit the New Theatre’s website.
- Tickets for the five-month nationwide tour are already available via PeterJames.com
- Read our review of Peter James’ Looking Good Dead at Cardiff New Theatre