Not Dead Enough, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury - review

A full house at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury certainly appreciated the adaptation of his book, Not Dead Enough, to the stage production that is on its premier UK tour.

The novel, adapted by award winning writer Shaun Mckenna and directed by Olivier award winner Ian Talbot, comes to life on stage in Shrewsbury all this week.

Not Dead Enough features James' popular Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, played by Bill Ward of Emmerdale and Coronation Street fame.

He is called in to solve the mysterious death of Kate Bishop. Everything seems to point to the murderer as her husband, Brian Bishop, who claims he was 60 miles away in London.

But, it seems, Bishop is not all he says he is - or is he?

As DS Grace digs deeper and deeper things get more and more complicated and turn more sinister with the inevitable rise in body count.

Bishop is played, at times terrifyingly, by Stephen Billington, also known by soap fans for his Hollyoaks and Corrie roles.

There are also strong performances by Laura Whitmore, who has swopped her dancing shoes for the pathologist's table and from Michael Quartey as Grace's sidekick, Branson, more believable and less of a caricature than DS Grace.

The action takes place mostly in the pathology lab and the police station. An unusual 'split screen' stage allows the audience to see different scenes played out at the same time, all leading up to the dramatic conclusion and of course, a twist in the tale.

The drama was interspersed with lighter moments until the audience was caught up in the clock ticking towards a terrifying finale.

I was glad Not Dead Enough was one Peter James novel I hadn't read as I wasn't constantly comparing the book and stage play as I do with films.

If you like 'who done its' and imagine Silent Witness meets Death in Paradise then Not Dead Enough is for you.

Not Dead Enough is on stage at Theatre Severn until Saturday. Tickets are available from the Box Office, 01743 281281 or https://www.theatresevern.co.uk