Picture You Dead at Milton Keynes Theatre Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Amanda Dando

Milton Keynes Theatre is well situated in central Milton Keynes, it has plenty of localised parking, and a wide variety of places for your pre show food or drinks. We arrived in good time to this lovely theatre to see the much anticipated stage play adaptation of Picture you Dead by the bestselling author Peter James. I am a huge fan of DI Grace in print and have read all the books but haven’t been able to face the ITV series Grace for fear of disappointment. Having been given the opportunity to review the stage play, I really hope it lives up to my high expectations and the books.

We took to our seats with much anticipation. The play is based around an amazing find by a couple at a car boot sale, a picture within a picture that could be worth a vast sum of money, or a high quality copy. I don’t want to spoil the plot for those who may choose to see the play this week. I will say don’t be put off by thinking you will need to have seen any previous plays adapted from the Grace series of books. This story stands up very well by itself and you really do not need to know the ins and outs of all the background that you obviously do get when reading the books.

The play is well acted, by a sterling cast, wonderful to see Peter Ash on stage, playing the art forger Dave Hegarty. He was totally believable and came across as a loveable rogue. Grace himself played by George Rainsford is in and out of the play along with his capable colleague Bella Moy played by Gemma Stroyan. The set is pretty much split into two and works really well throughout the play.

Through the twists and turns, just when you think you know who did what when, you have another twist to the story. There is some humour added in amongst the serious business of catching criminals, which made the audience chuckle out loud. It is a play really for adults, and the age of the audience tonight reflected this. The baddies were just that and I thought both Jodie Steele who played Roberta and Nicholas Maude as Stuart Piper, played their parts really well. It wouldn’t be fair not to mention Harry and Freya, the couple central to the story, they had a great chemistry when on stage together.

It certainly kept us entertained and as the story came to a close, you could guess where it would end, but I won’t spoil it for you. Picture you Dead allows you a glimpse into the art world, which although is a work of fiction, is it? You will have to go see the show to find out!

Rating: 4/5

Picture Me Dead is at Milton Keynes Theatre Tuesday 6 May to Saturday 10 May 2025

Tickets available from £15 subject to a transaction fee of £3.95 available to buy from atgtickets.com or call the Box Office 0800 912 6971

Milton Keynes Theatre 500 Marlborough Gate Central Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ