Some members of the cast of an upcoming Second World War play to be staged in Wimborne have paid an emotional visit to the D-Day map room at Southwick House near Portsmouth.

The actors, along with their director and the creative team from Wimborne Drama Productions, are currently in rehearsals for ‘Pressure’, an intense real-life thriller written by David Haig. The play is an extraordinary and little-known true story about the meteorologists, led by Scot Dr James Stagg, who had to advise General Eisenhower and the other Allied commanders about the weather conditions for the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy in June 1944.

Stagg, Eisenhower and the commanders were based at Southwick House for the final weeks before D-Day and that is where the play is set.

Director Richard Neal said: “It was very moving and rewarding to visit the place where such a pivotal moment in history was planned and executed. We stood in the room where Eisenhower received the forecasts from Stagg and where he had to make the decision whether to launch the invasion or not. The weather was unusually bad in June 1944 and at stake were the lives of hundreds of thousands of men and the outcome of the war. So they had to get the forecasts right.

“’Pressure’ is a brilliantly written drama by David Haig. It is tense and deeply affecting, but also funny. I encourage everyone to come and see it.”

‘Pressure’ will be performed at the Tivoli Theatre from 18 to 20 May. For further information and to book tickets, telephone 01202 885566 or visit www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk