CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT

by | Jan 17, 2023 | Dartford Entertainment, Entertainment, Uncategorized, What's On?

2f06ed4f 4fc5 4bf0 9add 01733036c8cd | Dartford Living

CORONATION STREET STAR 

KATIE MCGLYNN

JOINS THE CAST OF PETER JAMES

WISH YOU WERE DEAD

FROM 2 MAY 2023 FOR THE

UK TOUR WORLD PREMIERE 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM PETERJAMES.COM

Producer Josh Andrews has today announced that Katie McGlynn, best known for her seven-year starring role as Sinead Tinker in Coronation Street (for which she won a National Television Award), as well as Waterloo Road, Hollyoaks and the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing – will be joining the lead cast for the UK tour of Peter James’ Wish You Were Dead. Tickets are on sale now from PeterJames.com.

Katie will be making her professional stage play debut in this World Premiere production, playing the role of Cleo Morey from 2 May at the Leeds Grand Theatre, and then performing at top theatres across the UK until the tour concludes on 29 July at Woking’s New Victoria Theatre. Katie will be taking over the role from Giovanna Fletcher who will play the role on tour from February 16th through to April 29th.

Katie will join other lead cast members including George Rainsford (Casualty, Holby City, Call The Midwife) as DSI Roy Grace, Clive Mantle (Game of Thrones, The Vicar of Dibley, Sherlock, Casualty) as Curtis and Leon Stewart who will reprise his role as DS Glenn Branson, (having previously starred in another Peter James stage adaptation, Looking Good Dead).

Katie McGlynn said: “I can’t think of a better way to make my stage play debut than with this brilliant and thrilling Peter James masterpiece and am so excited to be performing alongside such anincredibly talented cast. I’m really looking forward to visiting theatres all over the country, witnessing the audience reaction to the many twists, turns and edge-of-your-seat moments in the show.” 

Wish You Were Dead follows five successful stage plays and the critically acclaimed smash-hit primetime ITV series ‘Grace’, which are all based on the best-selling novels by the UK’s number one crime author Peter James. This will be the sixth stage adaptation of James’ novels – making it the most successful crime thriller stage franchise since Agatha Christie.

The stage play of Wish You Were Dead follows DSI Roy Grace and Cleo Morey as they take a much-needed holiday together. They are hoping for a few days away from their dark worlds of murder and the mortuary. But their dream escape turns out to be the holiday from hell, as the past comes back to haunt them.

Produced by Josh Andrews and Peter James and adapted by award winning writer Shaun McKenna, who

has adapted the five previous Peter James plays, the production will also reunite the creative team from

Looking Good Dead, with Jonathan O’Boyle directing, Design by Michael Holt, Lighting by Jason Taylor and Sound by Max Pappenheim.

Previous Peter James novels brought to the stage include: ‘Looking Good Dead’ which premiered last year starring Adam Woodyatt and Gaynor Faye; ‘The House on Cold Hill’ starring Joe McFadden and Rita Simons in 2019; ‘Not Dead Enough’ starring Shane Richie and Laura Whitmore in 2017; ‘Dead Simple’ starring Tina Hobleyin 2015 and ‘The Perfect Murder’ starring Les Dennis and Claire Goose in 2014. 

The gripping television series ‘Grace’ was an immediate success with audiences when it launched on ITV in 2021, with almost nine million viewers tuning in to watch the primetime drama starring John Simm as DSI Roy Grace. Series two returned to TV screens in spring this year, with five more thrilling episodes

being the most watched programme across all channels on each of the Sundays they were broadcast. A

third series is now in the works.

Peter James is a number one bestselling author of crime and thriller novels and the creator of the much loved Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. He has topped the Sunday Times bestseller list 19 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 TV 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, which he also executive produced.

Wish You Were Dead’ – UK Tour 2023

16 – 18 FebruaryBromley: Churchill Theatre
20 – 25 February  Norwich: Theatre Royal
28 February – 4 MarchNottingham: Theatre Royal
6 March – 11 MarchCambridge: Arts Theatre
13 March – 18 MarchNewcastle: Theatre Royal
20 March – 25 MarchBrighton: Theatre Royal
28 March – 1 AprilGlasgow: Theatre Royal
3 – 8 AprilEdinburgh: Festival Theatre
18 – 22 AprilRichmond: Richmond Theatre
25 April – 29 AprilMilton Keynes: Milton Theatre
2 – 6 MayLeeds: Grand Theatre
8 – 13 MayShrewsbury: Severn Theatre
16 – 20 MayCardiff: New Theatre
23 – 27 MaySalford: The Lowry
30 May – 3 JuneDartford: Orchard Theatre
6 – 10 JuneSouthampton: Mayflower Theatre
12 – 17 JuneMalvern: Malvern Theatre
19 – 24 JuneBirmingham: Alexandra Theatre
27 June – 1 JulySheffield: Lyceum Theatre
3 – 8 JulySouthend: Palace Theatre
18 – 22 JulyLeicester: Curve Theatre
25 – 29 JulyWoking: New Victoria Theatre

* Giovanna Fletcher will perform up to and including Milton Keynes, and Katie McGlynn will perform from Leeds onwards

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