Dead Simple

Adapted from Peter James’ best-selling novel of the same name, Dead Simple follows the story of Michael, a young, wealthy property developer about to get married, who goes missing after a stag night prank gone wrong. Detective Roy Grace (Gray O’Brien) and his partner, Detective Sergeant Branson (Marc Small) are brought in to solve the mystery.

Twists and turns throughout the story have you second guessing each character and there were many whispers among the audience about “I bet it’s him, duckeh!” “Nah, I think he had something to do with it.” At times, it was like watching a soap unfold, which when you look at the cast, is not surprising.

Jamie Lomas of Hollyoaks and Eastenders fame played Michael in a convincing performance of a man with it all but reduced to utter fear and desperation when his life starts to unfold. Tina Hobley (Holby City) supported as his fiancé and Rik Makaram (Emmerdale) as the playboy protagonist.

Comic relief was provided by the excellent, Michael McKell as Bradley ‘Uncle Bobo’ Cunningham, best known for his roles in Doctors and Emmerdale, and Josh Brown, as the impulsive yet miss-guided, Davey Wheeler. Brown played his part perfectly, almost a show stealer, from the intricacies of his mannerisms to his well-timed and over-zealous excitement to be accidently involved in a missing person search.

The set was big and its layers allowed the story to move back and forth between each scene easily, the design allowed for a sufficient amount of claustrophobia surrounding Michael’s disappearance and a believable upper class apartment overlooking Brighton beach.