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 haze, 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: 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)
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
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)
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