D-DAY, June 5, 1944. 350,000 lives depend on the most important weather forecast of all time.
Pressure, the acclaimed play by David Haig, is the remarkable real-life tale of two warring Allied meteorologists tasked with predicting the weather conditions for the D Day landings.
72 hours prior to the D Day landings, Scottish meteorologist, Group Captain James Stagg, advises General Eisenhower on the weather conditions likely to prevail when 350,000 troops are to be sent across the Channel in Operation Overlord. With Stagg predicting severe storms and Irving P. Krick - Hollywood’s meteorological movie consultant - predicting beautiful weather, the future of Britain, Europe and the United States rests on one single forecast.
David Haig is a five-time nominee and Olivier Award-winning actor best known for his roles in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral, TV series The Thin Blue Line and stage production of The Madness of King George III (Tour and West End). He is also an award-winning playwright.
He wrote and starred alongside Daniel Radcliffe in My Boy Jack – which was made into a TV drama for ITV in 2007.
'A thunderous piece of theatre'
The Stage
'sharp, witty and affecting'
The Observer
'Haig's script quickly sets up the story and plunges into a fast paced, confident stride, pausing only briefly before an almighty storm'
Edinburgh Evening News
'The play delights with its strong classical structure'
The Times
'...a grippingly pacey adventure yarn...'
The Herald
'...you won’t see anything to surpass Pressure in Scottish theatre this year...'
The Scotsman
'A gripping play about a man under almost intolerable stress'
Financial Times
Written by David Haig
Directed by John Dove
Set and Costume by Colin Richmond
Lighting Design by Tim Mitchell
Composer and Sound Design by Philip Pinsky
Special effects: smoking and sound effects