REVIEW: Dead Guilty by Richard Harris at The Tabard Theatre 10 - 27 June 2026
‘utterly gripping and entertaining drama’ ★★★★★
Following a car accident that kills her employer John, and leaves her badly injured, Julia’s life becomes a haze of pills and pain as she is left to pick up the pieces of the catastrophe. With the help of those around her, she attempts to recover physically and emotionally. But in the fugue that follows, it soon transpires that something is amiss. Items in the house aren’t where she left them, small details people have told her don’t add up and Julia is left wondering who in her life she can depend on after such an earth-shattering event.
As the world of Dead Guilty reveals itself, it becomes apparent that although she is surrounded by people trying to help her, it’s doubtful whether any of them can offer Julia what she truly needs. We have Margaret, John’s surviving wife, whose desire to nurse Julia back to health starts to feel slightly smothering. There’s also Gary, Julia’s devoted handyman, whose helpful visage appears to be hiding ulterior motives. Even her therapist Anne’s compassionate manner is undercut slightly by her clinical jargon and procedural approach. Julia herself is far from the martyred archetype of the traumatised survivor, and is often irritable and sardonic in her interactions with the other characters. The multi-layered performances of the actors leave the audience not knowing quite who to trust, with perspectives on each character constantly shifting throughout.
The play is intricately plotted, with subtle breadcrumbs that are dropped early on and return later in the narrative. Coupled with the true-to-life feeling of the characters, this means that although certainly a thriller, the story never feels completely out of the realm of possibility. Richard Harris manages to skilfully straddle high drama and suspense with the everyday and comedy, making for an utterly gripping and entertaining drama. Not a moment on stage is wasted, nor does one linger for too long on any point; the pacing of this piece is masterful and drives the plot decisively towards its satisfying conclusion.
Debuting in 1994, some elements of this time period are still observable in the production, such as the giant handheld phone, and the reliance on this as a major source of information and contact with the outside world. Despite this, the production itself does not feel dated, and it’s conceivable that the events within it could still take place today. The set is elaborately detailed, with touches that make it feel truly like a lived-in home, with magazines from the era adorning the coffee table and Julia’s various graphic designs left strewn across the desk.
Suspenseful and darkly funny in equal parts, Dead Guilty is a gripping journey through the aftermath of disaster and the unsettling consequences that arise from this.
DEAD GUILTY by Richard Harris at The Tabard Theatre
10th-27th June 2026
Writer – Richard Harris
The cast
Julia – Charlotte Hunter
Margaret – Felicity Duncan
Gary – Freddie Webster
Anne – Julia Faulkner
The creatives
Director – Nick Bromley
Set Designer – Rob Miles
Costume Designer – Faith Powlett
Lighting Designer – Nat Green
Set Build and Scenic Artistry – Rob Miles and Pat McMahon
Stage Manager – Claire-Monique Martin
Produced by Simon and Sarah Reilly for Take Note Theatre for the Tabard
Photography: Felix Hall Close
