IF ONLY Premieres at Minerva Theatre, Chichester in June

Angus Jackson - director of the 2013 Olivier Award-winning production Goodnight Mister Tom - returns to Chichester with the world premiere of If Only by David Edgar. This political drama is described as a witty and astute exploration of the moral dilemmas at the heart of coalition government.

It's 16 April 2010, the day after the first prime ministerial debate. Stranded in Malaga Airport by the Icelandic ash-cloud, a Labour special advisor, a Lib Dem staffer and a Tory candidate consider their options. Can their parties survive without them? How will they get back home? And who'll end up in government?

Fast forward to 4 August 2014 when the three politicians meet again. One of them knows something that could change the outcome of the 2015 election. Should they reveal it? And at what cost?

David Edgar's plays include Destiny, Pentecost and Written on the Heart for the RSC and The Shape of the Table and Playing with Fire for The National Theatre. His multi award-wininng RSC adaptation of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby was revived by Chichester in 2006, followed by his new version of Henrik Ibsen's The Master Builder in 2010.

Associate Director Angus Jackson's credits for Chichester include Goodnight Mister Tom (also West End and UK tour), The Browning Version (also West End), Canvas, Bingo(also Young Vic), Wallenstein and Funny Girl. He will direct Neville's Island at Chichester's Theatre in the Park in September. He has also directed Elmina's Kitchen, Fix Up,Rocket to the Moon and The Power of Yes for The National Theatre.

If Only maintains Chichester Festival Theatre's strong track record in commissioning and producing new plays and adaptations. In recent years, playwrights whose work has premiered at Chichester include Roger Crane, David Hare, Ronald Harwood, Mike Poulton, Lucy Prebble and Penelope Skinner.

Jamie Glover plays Tory candidate Peter. Theatre credits include West End productions of Noises Off and The Invention of Love, All's Well That Ends Well, Edward III, The Island Princess and The Roman Actor (all for the RSC), Henry V and The Chalk Garden. Television credits include his role as deputy headmaster Andrew Treneman in BBC 1'sWaterloo Road.

Martin Hutson plays Labour advisor Sam. His Chichester credits include Antony and Cleopatra (reprising the role he played in 2010 at the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), A Marvellous Year for Plums, Taking Sides and Collaboration, which both transferred to the West End. Other theatre credits include The Heart of Robin Hood andTitus Andronicus (both for RSC), Ghosts and As You Like It, (receiving an Ian Charleson Award nomination for both productions), The Voysey Inheritance and The Mandate(both for The National Theatre) and The Jew of Malta (Almeida Theatre).

Charlotte Lucas plays Lib Dem staff staffer Jo. Recent theatre credits include the award-winning production of Red Velvet (Tricycle Theatre), Posh (Royal Court Theatre and West End), The Changeling (Young Vic) and the West End production of Yes, Prime Minister.

Eve Ponsonby plays Hannah. Her theatre credits include Prince of Denmark (National Theatre), Longing, Boys and The Children's Hour. Television credits include the forthcoming BBC 1 drama series The White Queen.

Design is by Ruth Sutcliffe whose credits include the forthcoming production of Home (to be staged in The Shed, the temporary space at The National Theatre), The Duchess ofMalfi, Kingdom of Earth and the RSC production of The Taming of the Shrew.

Lighting Design is by Philip Gladwell whose credits include No Quarter (Royal Court Theatre), Mogadishu, Dandy in the Underworld, The King and I, Punk Rock and The Duchess of Malfi.

Composer is Isobel Waller-Bridge whose credits include Mydidae (Soho Theatre and West End), Blink, The Girl with the Iron Claws, A Woman killed with Kindness and A Christmas Carol (both for The National Theatre).

Sound Design is by Sebastian Frost whose Chichester credits include Antony and Cleopatra. He received the first ever Tony Award for Sound Design of a Musical for Sunday in the Park with George on Broadway, following its runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory and West End. Other theatre credits include the 2010 Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse production of Antony and Cleopatra, Decade (Headlong), and the West End production of The Glass Menagerie.

If Only is at the Minerva Theatre from 14 June - 27 July. Evenings 7.45pm except for Wednesdays at 8.00pm and the Press Night, Thursday 20 June, 7.00pm. Matinees will be 2.45pm on Saturdays and 3.00pm on Wednesdays. Tickets: Previews/Press Night: £24.50, Evenings/Matinees: from £30.50. To book, go to cft.org.ukor contact the Box Office on 01243 781312.

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