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The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh and Chichester Festival

The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh and Chichester Festival

The Royal Lyceum Theatre, and Chichester Festival Theatre present the World Première of A new play by Directed by John Dove 1-24 May at Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

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

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

Scottish meteorologist, Group Captain (played by David Haig), son of a Dalkeith plumber, must advise General Eisenhower on when to give the order to send thousands of waiting troops across the Channel in .

In what became the most volatile period in the British Isles for over 100 years, the future of Britain, Europe and our relationship with the , rested on the shoulders of one reluctant Scotsman.

Pressure is the extraordinary and little known story of a Scot who changed the course of war, and our lives, forever.

David Haig is a four 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 and stage production The Madness of King George III (National Theatre). He is also an award winning playwright. He wrote, and starred alongside in - which was made into a TV drama for Granada in 2007.

David Haig says: "My play is about a forgotten hero. A Scottish meteorologist, modest, tenacious and brilliant, who helped to save Europe in 1944. I'm absolutely thrilled that this Scottish story is to open at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh. "

The cast features David Haig as Captain James Stagg, Malcolm Sinclair as General Dwight D “” Eisenhower, Tim Beckmann as Colonel Irving P. Krick, Laura Rogers as Kay Summersby, Anthony Bowers as Lieutenant Battersby and Captain Johns, Alister Cameron as Air Chief Marshall Trafford Leigh- Mallory, Gilly Gilchrist as Commander Franklin and General “Tooey” Spaatz, Scott Gilmour as Young Naval Rating, Robert Jack as Andrew, Michael Mackenzie as Electrician and Admiral Bertram “Bertie” Ramsay.

The creative team is led by Lyceum Associate Artist and award-winning director John Dove (Of Mice and Men, View From The Bridge, All My Sons, The Man Who Had All The Luck) who directs the show. Design will be from Colin Richmond (Lieutenant of Inishmore, Of Mice and Men) alongside innovative video design from Designer and Video Artist Andrzej Goulding (Union) .Philip Pinsky also returns as Sound Designer and Composer (Union and Dark Road) alongside Lighting Design by Tim Mitchell (A Dolls House).

Pressure is a co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre where the show will run from 30 May to 28th June 2014.

Press Night Thursday 8th May 2014 at Lyceum Theatre 7.45pm For more information, interviews, images or ticket requests, please contact Michelle Mangan, Press and PR Manager at The Lyceum [email protected] or 0131 248 4822.

For further information about Chichester Festival Theatre or images, please contact Debbie Plentie on 01243 812917, [email protected] or cft.org.uk/pressoffice.

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

David Haig’s extensive theatre credits include and The Madness of George III (Olivier Award nomination for the latter, Theatre Royal Bath), Yes, Prime Minister (Chichester Festival Theatre and ), (Tricycle Theatre), The Country Wife and ( Productions), Donkeys’ Years (Olivier Award Nomination) in Journey’s End (Comedy Theatre), (. Olivier Award Nomination) and My Boy Jack (Hampstead).His screen credits include The Wright Way, Strike Back, The Thick of It, Midsomer Murders, , The 39 Steps, My Boy Jack, The Thin Blue Line, Wycliffe and Cracker for television and films Two Weeks Notice, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Lady Jane and Morons from Outer Space.

Malcolm Sinclair’s theatre credits include Rattigan’s Nijinsky (Chichester Festival Theatre) Quartermaine’s Terms (Wyndham’s Theatre), The Doctor’s Dilemma, The Habit of , The Power of Yes, Luther, House/Garden, Richard III, Racing Demon and The Misanthrope (National Theatre), Twelfth Night (Sheffield Crucible), Privates On Parade (), Heartbreak House (), Dealer’s Choice (Menier Chocolate Factory and Trafalgar Studio), The History Boys (National Theatre and Broadway), Richard III (RSC), (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Hay Fever ()and Uncle Vanya (RSC at The ). For television his many credits include Parade’s End, Henry V, Silk, Foyle’s War, Hustle, Judge John Deed, Kavanagh QC, Pie in the Sky and Rumpole of the Bailey. Malcolm’s film credits include Tubby and Enid, Survivor, A Belfast Story, The Young Victoria, V for Vendetta and Casino Royale.

- ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

LISTINGS Pressure tells the true story of a weatherman whose prediction will affect the outcome of the entire second world war. Writer David Haig stars alongside Malcolm Sinclair.

LYCEUM PERFORMANCES & PRICES

DATES: 1-24 MAY 2014 EVENINGS Tuesday- Saturday, 7.45pm £14- £27.50 MATINEES Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2.30pm £12 - £22 Booking: 0131 248 4848 / www.lyceum.org.uk/pressure

Recommended for ages 12+

EVENTS AND ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE

Focus On Learn more about the play or playwright with local historian Owen Dudley Edwards. Wednesday 7 May at 10.30am Tickets: £6 (includes coffee/tea)

Post-show Discussion Join us in the Stalls post-show to meet the cast and director. Tuesday 13 May after the evening performance FREE! No ticket required

Theatre Discussion Group Join facilitator Rod McAra for a friendly discussion of the play you’ve seen that day or previously. Wednesday 21 May after the matinee FREE! But ticket required

Touch Tours for visually impaired Thursday 15 May at 6.30pm Saturday 17 May at 1.15pm

Audio-described Performances Thursday 15 May at 7.45pm Saturday 17 May at 2.30pm

BSL Interpreted Performance Wednesday 9 April at 7.45pm

Captioned Performance Saturday 24 May at 2.30pm

The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, or the Lyceum as it is fondly known, is one of ’s leading producing drama companies. Established in 1965 it has gained a reputation for excellence in both classical and contemporary work. It is committed to developing the country’s considerable indigenous talents while presenting the best of international drama to the public. The Lyceum aims to reach a wide audience, whatever their age or experience of theatre going, and to enable them to access the richly imaginative world of drama. The Lyceum Theatre Company has worked with co- producers across the country including The Bush, , the , Glasgow, National Theatre of Scotland, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Nottingham Playhouse, Horsecross Arts, Vanishing Point Theatre Company, Stellar Quines, Dundee Rep Theatre and Vox Motus.

Chichester Festival Theatre

Chichester Festival Theatre is one of the UK’s flagship theatres with an international reputation for producing work of the highest quality, ranging from large-scale musicals to distinguished dramas. During 2014, Chichester Festival Theatre productions will continue to be seen by the widest possible audience. Singin’ in the Rain continues its UK tour until October 2014 and Barnum begins a UK tour in the autumn. Another Country plays at the Trafalgar Studios and The Pajama Game will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre, both for limited seasons. The Last Confession, directed by Jonathan Church, will tour to Canada, America and Australia. Private Lives was recently broadcast at cinemas throughout the UK.

During 2012 – its 50th anniversary year – Chichester Festival Theatre embarked on a major capital project, RENEW, to restore and upgrade its Grade 2 * listed building. The Festival Theatre will reopen in 2014.

Website and Social Media lyceum.org.uk twitter.com/lyceumtheatre @lyceumtheatre facebook.com/lyceumtheatre cft.org.uk twitter.com/ChichesterFT @ChichesterFT facebook.com/chichesterfestivaltheatre

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