News: EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt to star in Peter James’ world premiere stage production of Looking Good Dead

Following the announcement that Peter James’ latest novel Find Them Dead has reached number one in the book charts, James and producer Joshua Andrews announce award-winning EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt to star in the leading role of Tom Bryce in the world premiere stage production of Looking Good Dead, opening at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley on 1 April 2021 ahead of a major UK tour.

Adam Woodyatt is the longest serving cast member in EastEnders having appeared as Ian Beale since 1985. For his portrayal of the role he was awarded the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2015 after the EastEnders 30th Anniversary live episode, Best Actor at the British Soap Awards. Looking Good Dead marks Woodyatt’s return to a stage play for the first time since 1982 as a 13 year-old at the National Theatre in Tom Stoppard’s On The Razzle. He has also previously appeared in the pantomimes Peter Pan, Snow White, Aladdin, Mother Goose and Cinderella.

Looking Good Dead is James’ fifth novel to be brought to the stage and follows the successful touring productions of The House on Cold Hill starring Joe McFadden and Rita Simons last year, Not Dead Enough starring Shane Richie and Laura Whitmore in 2017, The Perfect Murder starring Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace in 2016 and Dead Simple starring Tina Hobley in 2015.

Hours after picking up a USB memory stick, left behind on a train seat, Tom Bryce inadvertently becomes a witness to a vicious murder. Reporting the crime to the police has disastrous consequences, placing him and his family in grave danger. When Detective Superintendent Roy Grace becomes involved, he has his own demons to contend with while he tries to crack the case in time to save the Bryce family’s lives.

Looking Good Dead is produced by Joshua Andrews and Peter James and has been adapted for the stage by Shaun McKenna. An award-winning British dramatist, McKenna’s previous theatre credits include Ladies in Lavender, Lord of the Rings the Musical and James’ The Perfect Murder, Dead Simple, Not Dead Enough and The House on Cold Hill. It will be directed by the Olivier Award-winning Ian Talbot, previous Artistic and Managing Director of the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 2008. His West End credits include High Society at Shaftesbury Theatre, Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre and The Mousetrap at St Martin’s Theatre. His UK touring credits include Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Million Dollar Quartet and James’ The Perfect Murder and The House on Cold Hill.

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