Sir Thomas Beecham was one of Britain’s greatest orchestral conductors. He was also a crusty, colourful personality, famed for his acid wit and pithy sayings. Stories about Sir Thomas have abounded among musical circles for decades.

Caryl Brahms & Ned Sherrin have taken these anecdotes about his dealings with the rich and musically famous, and woven them into a dazzling two-hander between Sir Thomas and his musical secretary. The play shows Beecham in full-sail at various stages of his career – witty, tongue-in-cheek, often ruthlessly clear-sighted – and recounts incidents eccentric, trenchant, occasionally outrageous – but always hilarious.

With Timothy West as Sir Thomas, the play performed to sell-out houses in London, before being recorded as a radio play, and then filmed for television with a full orchestra. It was seen as “helping cement Beecham’s name as one of England’s natural wits and true originals”.

Beecham captures the spirit of a remarkable man, who brought an added joy and sparkle to many people’s lives, and to the world of music. Especially fitting for Ukaria’s concert hall, our staged reading will surround audiences with generous excerpts of Beecham’s own recordings.