Following the roots of Handel's masterpiece to...Chester?

Leap back into history as we discover the very muted beginnings of one of choral music's best-loved pieces. Did you know it was originally composed and performed in a pub in Chester? Nope, neither did we. Nick Drake's touching tribute follows Handel on a seemingly impossible journey to successfully having his opus magnus recognised, as well as exploring the composer's often stormy relationships with his working colleagues at the time.

With Baroque full costume of the period amidst a beautifully flickering candlelit setting at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, this festive play sees David Horovitch star as the beleaguered Handel, as he battles to get his masterpiece performed around Dublin, until finally succeeding during Passion Week. Other historical figures such as contralto Susannah Cibber, librettist Charles Jennens, and the mad writer Jonathan Swift appear, highlighting Handel's personal relationships and ambitions on his very own walk through the desert.