Grant Thornton UK LLP, the leading business and financial advisory firm, has sponsored the production of ‘Pressure’ which opens at The Lyceum in Edinburgh this May.
The firm has offered its backing to bring the show, written by four time nominee and Olivier Award winning actor, David Haig, to life.
Its sponsorship has supported The Lyceum in developing everything from the set to costumes ahead of the play’s world premiere on Thursday 1 May 2014.
Described as an intense real-life thriller centred around the most important weather forecast in the history of warfare, ‘Pressure’ is the little known story of a Scot who changed the course of war, and our lives, forever.
Scottish meteorologist, Group Captain James Stagg, the 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 Operation Overlord. In ‘Pressure’, thefuture of Britain, Europe and our relationship with the United States, rests on the shoulders of one reluctant Scotsman.
Ewen Fleming, Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP in Scotland, has led on the sponsorship deal. He said:“The play’s storyline resonates with our brand ethos. Business decisions are rarely black and white and dynamic organisations know they need to apply both reason and instinct to decision making.
“This is what we assist our clients with every day helping them to unlock their potential for growth.
“The subject of this play, Scottish meteorologist Group Captain James Stagg, embodied the application of both reason and instinct in his decision making and as a result changed the course of history.”
The show is set in the summer of 1944 with every part of the set and props created from scratch.
Zuleika Brett, Development Director at Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, said:-“Without Grant Thornton UK LLP’s support we would really have struggled to put on the production.
“As a producing theatre, we make all our own productions – that includes designing and making our costumes, and building the sets in our workshops in Roseburn, we also hire the cast, commission the writers and use our technical teams to bring a play to life.
“As a registered charity 50% of our income is from public sector grants (City of Edinburgh Council and Creative Scotland) and the other 50% is generated through ticket sales, venue hire and sponsorship and donations.
“Therefore corporate supporters such as Grant Thornton UK LLP are vital in helping make our work possible.”
The funding provided by Grant Thornton UK LLP has been matched by Arts & Business Scotland.
The play will run from 1st May -24th May and tickets are available now at lyceum.org.uk or by calling 0131 248 4848.
Watch the trailer here:-
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