Dear England National Tour
by James Graham
A co-production with JAS Theatricals
Booking and details
Our Olivier Award-winning smash hit kicks off a highly anticipated national tour this Autumn.
It’s time to change the game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. The England men’s team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and new 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.
From multi award-winning writer James Graham (Sherwood, BBC) and director Rupert Goold (Patriots, Cold War), this five-star ‘new stage epic’ (Telegraph) tells the uplifting, at times heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring story of Gareth Southgate’s revolutionary tenure as England manager, in a ‘gripping’ (The Times) examination of 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.
Reviews for the original production
‘A theatrical spectacle as uplifting as any England victory.’
Telegraph
★★★★★
‘The beautiful game in a beautiful play’
WhatsOnStage
★★★★★
‘A back-of-the-net winner’
The i
‘A tremendous piece of entertainment.’
Time Out
‘Uplifting, funny, and more entertaining than a World Cup final’
Tatler
‘A brilliant fusion of sport and art. Witty, clever and heart-in-mouth exciting.’
Evening Standard
‘James Graham’s fast-moving portrait of Gareth Southgate’s reign as the England football manager. Joyous.’
The Times
Gallery
Original National Theatre and West End production images
Suitability
Please note: This performance contains some offensive language, strobe lights, bright lights directly focused at the audience and loud noises throughout.
Supporters
The commissioning of this production was supported by the Sir Peter Shaffer Charitable Foundation.
The original production at the National Theatre was generously supported by the Dear England Team of Production Champions.
Cast
To be confirmed
Artistic team
Writer
James Graham
James Graham
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick), Dear England and This House (both also West End)
Director
Set Designer
Es Devlin
Es Devlin
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Dear England (also Prince Edward), The Motive and the Cue (also Noël Coward), The Lehman Trilogy (also West End, Broadway and on tour; 2022 Tony Award), The Crucible, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire and Ugly Lies the Bone
Costume Designer
Evie Gurney
Evie Gurney
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Dear England (also West End), Much Ado About Nothing and Antony and Cleopatra
Lighting Designer
Jon Clark
Jon Clark
For the National Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest, The Motive and the Cue, The Lehman Trilogy (also on Broadway and in the West End), Amadeus, ANNA, Othello and Hamlet
Co-Movement Director
Ellen Kane
Ellen Kane
For the National Theatre: as choreographer, Ballet Shoes and Dear England (also at Prince Edward)
Co-Movement Director
Hannes Langolf
Hannes Langolf
Hannes Langolf is a German-born physical theatre artist, based in London.
Video Designer
Ash J Woodward
Ash J Woodward
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, Coriolanus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, Dear England and Hex
Co-Sound Designer
Co-Sound Designer
Tom Gibbons
Tom Gibbons
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Dear England (also West End), The Antipodes, Home, I’m Darling (also West End), People, Places and Things (also West End), Hedda Gabler, Sunset at The Villa Thalia and The Red Barn
Additional Music
Other ways to watch
Dear England
From 10 March – 24 May
29 May – 29 June 2025
Photography by Rick Guest and CGI by Rob Rae