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The Hazard of the Die

An actor tries to stage Richard III at the Lyric theatre in Belfast while coming to terms with a diagnosis of motor neurone disease – can a cutting-edge drug trial offer hope?

Michael has a limp – and it’s getting worse. The young actor is in the middle of writing a radio drama about an experimental drug trial when he receives a diagnosis – he has Motor Neurone Disease. Average life expectancy is four years.
Should he sail around the world with his fiancé? Buy a pub with his mates? Of course not. Michael decides to stage a major production of Shakespeare’s longest history play – Richard III – with himself in the lead role, directed by best friend and writing partner Oisín.
At the same time, Michael gets a chance to join an experimental drug trial that could offer a promising new treatment for MND.
Now, he and Oisín just have to convince the Lyric Theatre in Belfast to stage their ambitious production of Richard, while Michael wonders if the drug can offer any hope against the disease’s relentless progression

Presented by Michael Patrick
Written by Michael Patrick & OisΓ­n Kearney

Produced by Conor McKay

A Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Northern Ireland production

Image credit: A Lyric Theatre Production / photographer – Chris Heaney

4 weeks left to listen

30 minutes

On radio

Tomorrow 21:30

Broadcasts

  • Saturday 13:30
  • Tomorrow 21:30

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