Phillipe Pétain, a tough, uncompromising soldier who rose through the ranks to save France in 1916 Battle of Verdun. Charles de Gaulle, the aristocratic, academic and equally uncompromising soldier who led France to freedom when, decades later, Pétain became a Nazi collaborator.

Two giants of the twentieth century who loved each other like father and son until they found themselves on opposing sides in World War II. In 1945 de Gaulle had his oldest friend tried for treason. Their complex relationship - noble, comic and absurd - changed history.

Jonathan Lynn's The Patriotic Traitor tells the extraordinary story of these great men as Pétain awaits his verdict.

The Patriotic Traitor premiered at the Park Theatre, London, in February 2016.

Jonathan Lynn's London theatre debut was as Motel the Tailor in the original West End cast of Fiddler on the Roof. His London directing credits include The Glass Menagerie, Songbook (Best Musical - Olivier Award and Evening Standard Award), Anna Christie (RSC, Stratford and Donmar), The Unvarnished Truth, Loot, Eric Idle's Pass the Butler, Arms and the Man, Tonight at Eight-Thirty, David Wood's The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner and The Gingerbread Man (twice, at the Old Vic). At the National Theatre: Feydeau's A Little Hotel on the Side translated by John Mortimer, Jacobowsky and the Colonel and Three Men on a Horse (Olivier Award, Best Comedy). He has directed ten feature films, notably My Cousin Vinny, Clue, Nuns on the Run and The Whole Nine Yards. His many TV performances include the memorable plays Barmitzvah Boy, The Knowledge and Outside Edge. He has written dozens of episodes of TV comedy series and is best known for the multi-award winning Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, created and written with Antony Jay. He co-wrote and directed the stage play Yes, Prime Minister and wrote the best-selling books The Complete Yes Minister and The Complete Yes, Prime Minister, still in print after more than forty years. He wrote and directed the play The Patriotic Traitor. His books include the novels Mayday and Samaritans, and Comedy Rules, a sort of memoir.