Dear England
Southgate's England explored onstage is back on a UK tour!
Dear England
A glorious, generous rollercoaster... that's what winning looks like
Financial Times
Dear England
Southgate's England explored onstage is back on a UK tour!
Why see Dear England?
Southgate, You're The One
It shoots, it scores across the UK!
The Olivier-winning play Dear England by James Graham is back for its first-ever UK tour after a sell-out run, following its critically acclaimed stint at London's National Theatre. Plus, talks of a four-part BBC One drama are in the works!
Gareth Southgate's transformation of the England men's national football team - in both the hearts and minds of the nation - is celebrated and explored in Dear England. This gripping play charts the glory, heartache, and cultural reset of the Three Lions over the past decade under Southgate's command.
Inheriting a squad of underperforming celebrity footballers with a culture of glitz, glamour and ego, Southgate's reign as England manager has seen him quietly transform the national team into a grounded group of individuals seen by many to represent not just the country's top talent, but also the breadth of modern English society; players who stand up for societal issues outside of the game and, importantly, who have achieved feats on the pitch not seen in generations, uniting and inspiring even those who were not normally football fans.
Key Information
Audience
Please note: This performance contains offensive language, strobe lights, bright lights directly focused at the audience and loud noises throughout.
Run Time
Two hours and 50 minutes including interval
Dates
24 - 28 Feb 2026
Creative
- Written by James Graham
- Directed by Rupert Goold
- Set design by Es Devlin
- Costume design by Evie Gurney
- Lighting design by Jon Clark
- Co-movement direction by Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf
- Video design by Ash J Woodward
- Co-sound design by Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons
- Additional music by Max Perryment
- Revival Direction by Elin Schofield
- Casting Direction by Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
- Dialect Coach Richard Ryder
- Voice coaches Cathleen McCarron and Tasmin Newlands
- Associate Lighting Design by Ben Jacobs
- Associate sound designer Johnny Edwards
- Staff Direction by Connie Treves
Awards
2024 Olivier Awards
- Best New Play
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Will Close
Reviews
Customer reviews
Doron Greenwood
This hits the target
I went to see “Dear England†last night. It was really enjoyable. I thought the acting was good, especially by the one playing Gareth Southgate. It depicted the characters well and the interaction in the changing room.
The idea was good. I thought the execution could have been a bit better.
I was pleased with my seats which were central and near the front. The queue for the bar at the interval was not too long so no complaints! ... Read more
Vanessa
Dear England on target!
Funny, yet also at times very poignant, this is a fascinating examination of the emotional and psychological upheaval that the footballers who make up the England team have experienced over the years. Initially, you see characters portrayed almost as though they'd been constructed for an update of Spitting Image, but minutes later, deeper layers are revealed and you realise the struggle Gareth Southgate has been up against to turn round the team and make it something that not only the country could believe in but also the players themselves. Es Devlin's set is amazing and deceptively simple and the choreography of movement by the cast gives this pace and dynamism. Yes, footy fans will recognise more details than those who don't like the game, but it goes deeper than recalling just what the England team have been up to in the last seven years. The metaphor running throughout is a story in three acts, but the England team's story will (I hope) run and run. Congrats to all the cast, the production team and the crew involved. ... Read more
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