The Untold

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The Untold: Two Pairs of Hands

Two Pairs of Hands

BBC Radio 4 - The Untold, Two Pairs of Hands

Sandi has to learn to make a lute by herself for the first time since her partner died.

Sandi has to learn to make a lute by herself for the first time since her partner died. Grace Dent presents a series documenting the untold dramas of 21st-century Britain.

Sandi’s partner Steve died last September after a long illness. They not only lived together, they had worked together for 35 years, making lutes - period instruments that date back to the 16th century.

Now Sandi is having to work single-handed for the first time in her career. It’s not only a practical challenge, it’s a psychological one too. She has to deal with her grief, as well as facing an empty workshop and a backlog of work that’s built up during Steve’s illness, when she was caring for him 24/7.

Her best friend Derin has come to give her moral support and help in the workshop as Sandi takes on the task of making an archlute for a customer in Germany. It’s got a long neck to carry extra bass strings - particularly tricky to manoeuvre with just one pair of hands. 

Sandi has no income until she finishes the archlute and the other instruments her customers are waiting for. And she can no longer afford to stay in her workshop now that she’s working solo, so she’s got to find a new place.

Can she meet the challenge?

The programme includes original music, Tombeau for Stephen, written and performed in tribute to Steve by David van Ooijen, on a theorbo made by Steve and Sandi.

Produced in Bristol by Jo Glanville

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Factual: Life Stories

A series documenting the untold dramas of 21st-century Britain.

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