THURS 8 AUGUST at 8.30pm

Playing Beethoven

Mike Hatchard doesn’t just play the music of Beethoven, he becomes Beethoven. Assuming the role of the great man towards the end of his life, he looks back on the highs and lows; the first real ‘star’ of music who dared be uncompromising and driven by his own agenda.

Bipolar long before the condition was recognised, in this recital/play he demonstrates to his audience on how his music reflects his passions and disappointments. The financial struggles, the self doubt, the ill-health, the legendary irascibility and the all consuming deafness – all these things succumb to the magnificence of the music.