Dear England
at the Prince Edward Theatre
a new play by James Graham
Booking and details
Prince Edward Theatre
Old Compton Street, London W1D 4HS
Dear England was broadcast in cinemas. Find out if there’s a screening near you.
Ticket bookings were processed on a 3rd party site operated by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres. Personal and booking data will be shared with the National Theatre for analytical purposes.
It’s time to change the game.
The smash-hit production of Dear England transfers to the West End this Autumn, following a sold-out run at the National Theatre.
The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?
The team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.
Joseph Fiennes portrayal of Gareth Southgate is ‘pitch-perfect’ (Time Out) in this ‘thrilling’ (Sunday Times) new play by James Graham, with set design by Es Devlin. Graham reunites with director Rupert Goold, following their acclaimed productions of Tammy Faye and Ink, in this gripping ’new stage epic’ (Telegraph) about both nation and game.
Please note this is a fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams, based on extensive research and interviews. It features characters inspired by some real-life individuals, and some composite characters entirely imagined by the author.
Performed 9 October 2023 — 13 January 2024 in the Prince Edward Theatre.
Dr Strangelove
In cinemas now
Seven-time BAFTA winner Steve Coogan plays four roles in Armando Iannucci and Sean Foley’s hit West End adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece.
Reviews
‘James Graham’s new stage epic. Tremendous.’
Daily Telegraph
‘The beautiful game in a beautiful play.’
WhatsOnStage
‘A brilliant fusion of sport and art.’
Evening Standard
‘A glorious, generous rollercoaster … That’s what winning looks like.’
Financial Times
‘He shoots, he scores. Graham’s fast-moving portrait of Gareth Southgate’s reign as the England football manager.’
The Times
Gallery
Production images
Suitability
Please note: This performance contains offensive language, strobe lights, bright lights directly focused at the audience and loud noises throughout.
Official Payment Partner of the National Theatre
Production team
Playwright
James Graham
James Graham
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025, 2023, in the West End, at the Lowry and on UK tour), This House (Cottesloe, Olivier, in the West End and on tour) and Boys from the Blackstuff (Liverpool’s Royal Court, the National Theatre and in the West End)
Director
Rupert Goold
Rupert Goold
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025), The Effect, Earthquakes in London and Time and the Conways
Set Designer
Es Devlin
Es Devlin
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025, 2023 and at Prince Edward), Coriolanus, The Motive and the Cue (also Noël Coward), The Lehman Trilogy (also West End, Broadway and on tour), The Crucible, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire and Ugly Lies the Bone
Costume Designer
Evie Gurney
Evie Gurney
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025, 2023 and in the West End), The Grapes of Wrath, Much Ado About Nothing and Antony and Cleopatra
Lighting Designer
Jon Clark
Jon Clark
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025, 2023, in the West End and UK tour), The Importance of Being Earnest, The Effect (also The Shed, NY), The Motive and the Cue (also West End), The Lehman Trilogy (also Broadway, West End and international tour), Manor, Absolute Hell, Amadeus, As You Like It, The Beaux Stratagem, Hamlet, Othello, The Effect (2012), Collaborators, A Woman Killed with Kindness, Greenland, Pains of Youth, Our Class, Damned by Despair, Women of Troy, The Cat in the Hat, Beauty and the Beast and Hansel and Gretel
Co-Movement Director
Ellen Kane
Ellen Kane
For the National Theatre: as co-movement director, Dear England (2025), and as choreographer, Ballet Shoes and Dear England (2023; also at Prince Edward)
Co-Movement Director
Hannes Langolf
Hannes Langolf
For the National Theatre: as co-movement director, Dear England (2025); movement and choreography for Dear England (2023; also at Prince Edward), Can We Talk About This? (as choreography assistant for DV8 and on international tour) and JOHN (as Creative Associate and performer for DV8 and on international tour)
Co-Sound Designer
Dan Balfour
Dan Balfour
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025, 2023 and in the West End)
Co-Sound Designer
Tom Gibbons
Tom Gibbons
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025, 2023 and in the West End), Coriolanus, The Antipodes, Home, I’m Darling (also West End), People, Places and Things (also West End; 2016 Olivier Award for Best Sound Design), Hedda Gabler, Sunset at the Villa Thalia and The Red Barn
Additional Music
Max Perryment
Max Perryment
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025, 2023 and in the West End)
Video Designer
Ash J Woodward
Ash J Woodward
For the National Theatre: as video and projection designer includes Dear England (2025 and 2023), Ballet Shoes, Coriolanus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches and Hex
Casting Director
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025, 2023 and in the West End), Ballet Shoes, Coriolanus, London Tide, Dear Octopus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, The Odyssey, Dixon and Daughters, Romeo and Julie, Much Ado About Nothing, Trouble in Mind, Hex, After Life, Dick Whittington, The Visit, My Brilliant Friend and Peter Gynt
Dialect Coach
Richard Ryder
Richard Ryder
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025 and 2023), Coriolanus, Jane Eyre, One Man, Two Guvnors, A Taste of Honey, NT 50 Years On Stage, HOME, This House, Port, Cocktail Sticks and Hymn
Voice Coach
Cathleen McCarron
Cathleen McCarron
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025, 2023 and in the West End), Ballet Shoes, The Other Place for A Zeldin Company, Coriolanus, Mnemonic (2024, with Complicité), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Confessions and The Motive and the Cue, Death of England: Closing Time and Romeo and Julie
Associate Director
Elin Schofield
Elin Schofield
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025) and LOVE at Park Avenue Armory and on European tour
Associate Set Designer
Associate Lighting Designer
Ben Jacobs
Ben Jacobs
For the National Theatre: associate work for Dear England (2025 and 2023) and ANNA
Poster photography by Rick Guest and CGI by Rob Rae