Pressure

An intense psychological drama exploring desire, ambition, and competition. A world premiere at Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.

Perfect for audiences drawn to high-stakes psychological tension.

About the Ebook

An intense real-life thriller centred around the most important weather forecast in the history of warfare.

June 1944. One man's decision is about to change the course of history.

Everything is in place for the biggest invasion ever known in Europe – D-Day. One last crucial question remains: will the weather be right on the day?

Problematically there are two opposing forecasts. American celebrity weatherman Colonel Krick predicts sunshine, while Scot Dr James Stagg, Chief Meteorological Officer for the Allied Forces, forecasts a storm. As the world watches and waits, General Eisenhower, Allied Supreme Commander, must decide which of these bitter antagonists to trust. The decision will not only seal the fates of thousands of men, but could win or lose the entire war.

An extraordinary and little-known true story, David Haig's play thrillingly explores the responsibilities of leadership, the challenges of prophecy and the personal toll of taking a stand.

Pressure premiered at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, in May 2014 before transferring to Chichester Festival Theatre, in a production directed by John Dove, with the author playing James Stagg.

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• Gripping examination of pressure and desire.
• Exploration of toxic competition and manipulation.
• Published by Nick Hern Books, leading contemporary theatre publisher.
• Theatre that unsettles and disturbs.

Reviews

'The tension is palpable and expertly maintained throughout, with real wit and warmth as well... Haig has obviously done his research, and then smartly played with the facts for full dramatic effect. You wouldn't want it any other way. It's entertainment' The Review Hub

'Utterly engrossing… unostentatiously and with a quiet intensity, Pressure covers a lot of ground without ever resorting to patriotic cliché' WhatsOnStage

'This highly watchable, microscopic look into the mechanics of battle is nothing short of enthralling. It's tense, it's gripping, and it's dialogue feels quintessentially British and for that reason it resonates fondly' Broadway World

'Fascinatingly original… with its moments of comedy and atmosphere of high stakes, this is an excellent documentary drama' The Times

'Haig has researched his subject matter in great detail, but more importantly the play grabs the attention from the outset and never loosens its dramatic grip. It captures the extraordinary pressure its characters are under at this crucial turning point in the Second World War, with wit, compassion and sheer dramatic verve. By turns funny, tense and deeply affecting. I cannot recommend it too highly' The Telegraph

'Sharp, witty and affecting… events flow across the stage like sunlight and shadow on a changeable summer's day' The Guardian

'Pressure is gripping, tense and deeply moving theatre' British Theatre Guide

'A masterful piece of theatrical storytelling' Financial Times

About the Author

David Haig is an actor and playwright. His stage plays include My Boy Jack and The Good Samaritan (both for Hampstead Theatre, London) and Pressure (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, and Minerva Theatre, Chichester). My Boy Jack was filmed for ITV, starring David, Daniel Radcliffe and Kim Cattrall, and broadcast in November 2007.

His distinguished acting career includes West End appearances in Yes, Prime Minister (a transfer from Chichester); Art, Dead Funny (a transfer from Hampstead), Journey’s End, The Country Wife and The Sea. At the National Theatre he appeared in Alan Ayckbourn’s House/Garden, and at the Royal Court in Hitchcock Blonde and The Recruiting Officer. He has worked extensively for the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing, amongst others, Angelo in Trevor Nunn’s production of Measure for Measure. He won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for Our Country’s Good at the Royal Court, and received nominations for Mary Poppins and Donkeys’ Years, both in the West End.

His television and film appearances include Yes, Prime Minister, Mo, The Wright Way, Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Thin Blue Line, Talking Heads and Crime and Punishment.

Publication Details

Publisher: Nick Hern Books

Publication Date: 12 June 2014

Print Length: 120 pages (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9781780014630

Format: Ebook

Language: English

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