Southport Little Theatre Features Play 'Pressure' on WWII Decision

In this 80th anniversary year of D-Day you’d think the story of D-Day would be well known, especially if you were a D-Day veteran.

But it’s not widely known that the success of the invasion was snatched from the jaws of failure thanks to efforts of one man. 

James Stagg was a man for a humble Scottish family who’s life long passionate interest in the weather led him to join a new profession at the time - meteorology.

The thrilling true story of how Stagg persuaded Eisenhower to delay D-Day is told in the play Pressure written by David Haig (Four Weddings & a Funeral, The thick of It).

The story starts on the Friday before D-Day when everybody & everything is ready to go on Operation Overlord, everything except that is the weather.

It’s been beautifully sunny for 6 weeks & Krick the US weatherman thinks the fine weather will continue.

But James Stagg the head of the Allied Met Unit predicts stormy weather & rough seas.

Eisenhower has to make the final decision.

We know the outcome but how it happened is a thrilling tale, particularly for D-Day veteran Harry Howorth 103 who will be the VIP guest on the last night Saturday 2nd March.

Pressure is on at 7.30pm tonight & Saturday at Southport Little Theatre.