Deaf News: Broadcast date confirmed for deaf radio drama ‘Beethoven Can Hear You’

New radio drama Beethoven Can Hear You will be broadcast on Sunday, with a transcript available for deaf people, BBC Radio 3 has confirmed.

The programme, which stars deaf actress Sophie Stone and features music from deaf musician Lloyd Coleman, will air as part of the station’s Beethoven Unleashed event.

Written by Tim X Atack (Forest 404), the story follows a deaf time traveller (Stone) who discovers a world in which Ludwig van Beethoven is hearing.

The famed composer will be played by Peter Capaldi, known for previously playing The Doctor in BBC One’s long-running sci-fi series, Doctor Who.

Speaking to The Limping Chicken earlier this year, Lloyd described the experience working on the drama as “an absolute joy”.

“I wanted to do it because it was a challenge and a new challenge for me about a man and a composer that I greatly admire, with a writer, Tim X Atach, who I also greatly admire.

“I’m a huge fan of Peter Capaldi and the idea of having [him] as Beethoven, I found too difficult to resist.

“Then Sophie Stone, of course, as well, another actor I hugely admire, and I think all the creative decisions that James [Robinson, producer] and Tim have taken in the project have been ones that have really, really excited me,” he said.

More of Lloyd and Sophie’s thoughts on the drama can be found in our report from July.

Beethoven Can Hear You will air at 7:30pm on Sunday, with a transcript and recording available after broadcast on the BBC Radio 3 website.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.