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The story of Piano Man, a mysterious stranger who brought global attention to Sheppey after he was discovered wandering on a beach, has been made into a play.
In August, 2005, a young man wearing a suit with no labels was found sopping wet on Sheerness seafront, apparently unable to speak.
He was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, where he was given a piece of paper and drew a sketch of a grand piano.
When he played a piano in the hospital chapel, staff thought he must have been a professional musician.
The story was covered by news organisations around the world, But Piano Man later slipped into obscurity after he was identified as 20-year-old German Andreas Grassl.
He returned to his home, a farm in Bavaria, and is thought to have suffered a mental breakdown although exactly how he came to find himself on Sheerness beach was never discovered.
The story has now been made into a play, The Piano Man, by London theatre company AllthePigs.
Director Sam Carrack said: “I remember reading the article as a student and getting so excited by it, but also the drama and the mystery of these happenings. But the story went cold and we never really got a closure.”
He said the company carried out meticulous research for the project but it has avoided approaching Grassl himself or anyone directly linked to the story.
Instead they spoke to mental health nurses, psychologists and specialist police officers about what may have happened in order to tell the tale in their own way.
Mr Carrack said: “All the research and events are based on fact. The characters in the play we have created.
“They represent more the different worlds that they inhabit so we were able to do the play we wanted to do.”
The Piano Man is showing at New Diorama Theatre in London from November 11 to 15.
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