Peter James Announces World Premiere of THE PERFECT MURDER UK Tour, Jan 2014

International best selling crime thriller novelist Peter James - who has sold over 15 million books of his Roy Grace series and been published in 36 languages - is to have his work adapted for the stage for the very first time. The Perfect Murder, which spent 15 weeks at No.1 in the book charts, has been adapted by award winning writer Shaun McKenna and will open at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford on Wednesday 8th January 2014, before touring to venues such as the Theatre Royal in both Bath and Brighton.

The Perfect Murder will star Les Dennis, one of Britain's most-loved actors and entertainers who is currently starring as King Arthur in the West End in Spamalot. And last week finished joint runner-up in the Grand Final on BBC 1's Celebrity Masterchef.

Victor Smiley and his wife Joan have been married for a long time. But Victor secretly loathes Joan and is getting attention elsewhere. And Joan is bored stiff by Victor,whose irritating ways are driving her mad. The marriage has reached a crisispoint and Victor decides there is only one way to get Joan out of his life forever.........but he's about to get a nasty surprise.

Olivier Award winner Ian Talbot directs an all-star cast. Alongside Les Dennis - whose extensive credits in theatre include Chicago, Legally Blond, Hairspray, Art, Skylight and his award winning role in 'Jigsy' and on TV in Ricky Gervais'Extras and Life's Too Short and the upcoming Midsommer Murders Christmas special - will be Claire Goose, who starred in the BBC hit series Waking the Dead and Casualty as well as ITV's The Bill and most recently SKY TV's comedy-drama Mount Pleasant.

They are joined by Gray O'Brien, who recently enjoyed an award-winning three years in Coronation Street and has also starred in the TV series Titanic, Peak Practice and Casualty as well as in the West End in Sleuth; Steven Miller who starred as Lenny Lyons for three years in Casualty and whose theatre credits include The Lord of The Rings at London's Drury Lane and Blackwatch; and finally Simona Armstrong, who the public took to theirhearts in BBC's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria.

Peter James has won numerous awards both in the UK and in the USA. In 2012 Peter won the coveted US Barry Award for Best British Crime Thriller. The Perfect murder spent 15 weeks at No 1 and remained for 50 weeks in the iBooks Top 10 and he has recently enjoyed great successwith the latest release in the Roy Grace Series, Dead Man's Time.

Peter James commented on the first stage adaptation of his work:

"My parents took me to the Theatre Royal in Brighton almost every week of my childhood, and I dreamed of one day having a play of my own work produced. This is now truly a dream come true, and I could not wish to be with a more stellar group of people, including my wonderful co-producer Josh Andrews, writer Shaun McKenna who has done such a terrific adaptation and Ian Talbot who is a fantastic director. And I do not think we could have a more perfect, murderously wonderful cast!"

Shaun McKenna is an award-winning writer whose numerous credits include the award wining Ladies In Lavender and the epic West End stage adaptation of The Lord of The Rings musical.

The Perfect Murder is produced by Joshua Andrews and Peter James, in association with Paul Tyrer and Jamie Clark at the Booking Office.