Billed as ‘The Most Scandalous Thriller of The Year’, Red Entertainment’s Dead Lies, written by No.1 Best Selling Crime Novelist Hilary Bonner, will receive its world premiere this Spring and will visit The Queen’s Theatre in Barnstaple Thursday 14th – Saturday 16th April 2022.
Dead Lies is a political thriller inspired by the Jeremy Thorpe scandal of the 1970’s, set against the political backdrop of current day Westminster. In this fast-moving, hard-hitting political English thriller the action takes place during a fiercely fought election campaign, following Peter George, a politician who promises a new kind of politics beyond sleaze and spin. He is welcomed as a messiah by the British public and expected to restore trust in a broken political system. But a shocking secret lies in the past of our country’s hero. As buried truths rise from the ashes, personal and political influences begin to shake the faith of those closest to him, and a media cascade threatens to bring down Britain’s new saviour.
Making an eagerly awaited return to the stage is Hollyoaks and Holby City actor Jeremy Edwards who plays would be Prime Minister Peter George.
Jeremy Edwards said: “I am delighted to be touring with this exceptional drama. Dead Lies is a sexy, scandalous and mysterious play which will keep you on your toes from start to finish – and unlike many of the classic ‘whodunnit’s is set in the contemporary society we live in it today, making it all the more relevant and riveting. I can’t wait to see you there”
Joining Jeremy on stage will be Alicia Charles (Coronation Street, Holby City) who plays Kate Compton, Press Secretary to Peter George. Kate is to Peter what Alistair Campbell was to Tony Blair and Dominic Cummings to Boris Johnson. Portia Booroff (Doctors, EastEnders) as Peter’s devoted wife Jo George, and Claire Dyson, fresh from appearing opposite Liam Neeson in Made in Italy, as ex-supermodel Stephanie Jones. Making his UK tour debut is George Verghis in the role of Peter George’s Campaign Manager James Gillen.
Dead Lies is directed by the critically acclaimed Joe Harmston who said: “Hilary does that rare thing writing a thriller for the stage: like Agatha Christie, she puts psychology first, making Dead Lies the best sort of whydunnit”
The parallels between the real-life scandal that saw Barnstaple MP Jeremy Thorpe disgraced and stripped of his leadership in the 70’s and the fiction of Dead Lies come as no surprise as writer Hilary Bonner’s illustrious career began Fleet Street where she reported on the Thorpe scandal. She said: “I have always been intrigued by mystery and scandal and have drawn heavily on my own experiences of these real-life scandals in wiring Dead Lies, my debut play. I’m so excited to see these characters come to life live on stage with such a fantastic company of actors. I hope audiences will be on the edge of their seats and enjoy the mystery and intrigue play out in front of their eyes”
Dead Lies is a roller-coaster ride of a play, packed with twists and turns until the very last scene. Expect the unexpected. No one is safe.
For tickets and more information visit www.deadlies.co.uk queenstheatre-barnstaple.com
