Last night, The Third Richard began a week of screenings at the Metro Cinema in Moray Pl.
The documentary film written, directed and produced by Mr Mulheron explores the life and music of Mr Fuchs, who escaped to New Zealand from Germany in 1939.
‘‘The rediscovery of my grandfather's life only began two years ago when a music historian knocked on my door and asked to see some large cartons of manuscripts stored in the attic,'' Mr Mulheron said.
‘‘Since then, the story has just got bigger and bigger. A concert was held in Germany devoted to my grandfather's chamber music, last May the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra played a symphonic movement and in August the Governor-General opened the Richard Fuchs Archive at Government House.
The level of interest, both national and international, has been quite overwhelming.''
Mr Mulheron was a professional actor at the Fortune Theatre in the late 1980s and has a daughter studying at the University of Otago.
His work in theatre, television and film includes co-creating and directing the television comedy series Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby.
The Third Richard takes its title from the belief held by Mr Fuch's father that his musical son was on a par with Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss.
Mr Fuchs' ability remained undiscovered during his lifetime because he was first confined in Dachau for being a Jew and then declared an alien enemy in New Zealand for being German.
His grandfather would have thought it was ‘‘fantastic'' audiences were finally hearing his music, Mr Mulheron said.
