Our first night back at the New Theatre, Cardiff – and it promised to be a real nail-biter.
The crime thriller whodunnit Looking Good Dead is based on the book by best-selling author Peter James, and features Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. This world-premier production is adapted for the stage by award-winning writer Shaun McKenna, who has also worked on other Peter James adaptations, including The House on Cold Hill.
We expected a gripping story with twists and turns and to be kept guessing until the very last minute…. and the play certainly delivered on that (though I have to admit I had an inkling about what might happen at the end because I have a knack for asking questions that spoil my own suspense sometimes.) But I only got it half right. So I was gasping with the rest of the audience as the show drew to a close.
The story follows struggling businessman Tom Bryce (played by Eastenders’ Adam Woodyatt), who finds a USB memory stick on the seat of a train. With the help of his teenage son Max (Luke Ward-Wilkinson) he manages to crack the password to play the contents of the stick on his laptop.
But what they see is shocking – the vicious murder of student Janie (Natalie Boakye), filmed for subscribers who pay to see such violence.
So begins a nightmare for the Bryce family, as they find themselves facing the fact that they could be next on the murderer’s hit list.
Gaynor Faye plays Tom’s wife Kellie, an alcoholic who spends money and cleans obsessively to feel some sort of happiness and control. The couple spend a lot of time arguing and making up, all of which Max shuts himself off from using noise-cancelling earphones.
Max reports what he saw on the video to the police. Enter stage right Superintendent Roy Grace (played by Harry Long) who – along with sidekick Glenn (Leon Stewart) and Bella (Gemma Stroyan) sets about cracking the case and help save the Bryce family from danger.
There are light-hearted and even comedic moments dotted through the play – perhaps some of which we’re not meant to laugh at, I suspect, And there are some moments when you may find yourself having to suspend your disbelief. But, hey, that’s partly what we love about theatre isn’t it?!
The set-design and staging is clever and atmospheric. Most of the action is centred on the Bryce’s immaculate family home. A split-stage with brilliantly used back-lighting allows us to be transported from there to the murder scene – a torture chamber in a warehouse – so we can see what’s played out there on Tom Bryce’s computer. The police station slides on and off stage.
I was pretty much gripped throughout the performance – so if you’re looking for a night out where you want to feel the suspense of being immersed in a mystery, enjoy twists and turns and even have a few chuckles, too, then book your tickets now.
Looking Good Dead runs from Tuesday 28 September until Saturday 2 October 2021 at The New Theatre, Cardiff.
Tickets cost from £18-£40. The Box Office is on 0343 310 0041
Find out more and book tickets at newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
SEE BELOW FOR THE PREVIEW PIECE WRITTEN BEFORE THE SHOW::::So, it thrills me to say that our fabulous theatres are back in business. And our first night at the New Theatre, Cardiff, is going to be a nail-biter!
Looking Good Dead is based on the book by best-selling author Peter James, and features Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.
We’ve been told to get ready for twists and turns and to expect to be kept guessing until the very last minute…. Who could resist that?!
The story follows Tom Bryce (played by Eastenders’ Adam Woodyatt), who finds a USB memory stick on the seat of a train. As he plays it in an attempt to return it to its owner, he becomes a witness to a vicious murder.
When Tom reports his findings to the police, he places himself and wife Kellie (Gaynor Faye) in peril.
Enter Superintendent Roy Grace (played by Harry Long) who – along with cracking the case – needs to help save the Bryce family from danger.
This world-premier production is adapted for the stage by award-winning writer Shaun McKenna, who has also worked on other Peter James adaptations, including The House on Cold Hill.