Dead Guilty 'The Essence of an Excellent, Thrilling Entertainment'
Susan Stanley-Carroll impressed with Richard Harris' and Nick Bromley's creation
Julia Faulkner and Freddie Webster. Picture: Felix Hall Close
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June 15, 2026
Richard Harris’s ‘Dead Guilty’ playing at The Theatre in the Tabard until 27 June is a riveting thriller with a robust cast. Nick Bromley’s astute direction has created a production that is the essence of an excellent, atmospheric and entertainment.
Initially the tempo of ‘Dead Guilty’ is calm, encouraging the audience to be curious, yet not too curious, as it lulled us into accepting the various visitors to the home of the injured Julia (Charlotte Hunter). Very gradually I found myself sitting more and more tightly onto the edge of my seat.
Oh boy, Charlotte Hunter’s performance is fragile and mesmerising: her exceptionally expressive voice, face framed by her hair. Hair that is significant: it is an integral part of her character Julia, as well as, adding to her costume. Julia is recovering from a tragic car accident that killed her married lover and damaged her leg.
We, the audience, have to determine what is going to happen and to whom. At times every character is a suspect.
Julia Faulkner and Freddie Webster are totally plausible and level up brilliantly with Charlotte Hunter’s star performance. As does the finely nuanced character of Margaret played with steadfast conviction by Felicity Duncan.
Praise, too, to Rob Miles’s immaculate set depicting a 1990's living room. Nat Green’s lighting design was unobtrusive yet atmospheric; the music and sound added a spooky dimension to the production.
The narrative hooked me from the start and I felt I had sussed out the culprit but later I ricochetted from one character or idea to another as the action developed.
Charlotte Hunter, Freddie Webster and Felicity Duncan. Picture: Felix Hall Close
Maybe Robert Harris’s fast, focussed, fluent script would have benefitted from an edit enabling the second act to cut more quickly to the quick?
Also a wee conundrum could the script have been gently updated to the 21st century adding mobile phones? Julia was WFH! I think not.
Will I trust family and friends again when they express too much overt kindness? Forget about that! My task for tonight is to obliterate any shadows on my staircase walls!
Susan Stanley-Carroll
Dead Guilty runs from 10–27 June, with tickets starting from £20. Running time is approximately two hours, including a 15-minute interval.
Booking is available via the Tabard Theatre’s web site.
Tabard Theatre is at 2 Bath Road, W4 1LW just next to Turnham Green tube station.
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