Dear England, UK Tour Review
The cast of Dear England national tour. Photo by Marc Brenner
This autumn, James Graham’s Dear England kicks off its first ever UK tour. Originally premiering at the National Theatre’s Olivier stage in 2023, followed by a West End transfer to the Prince Edward Theatre and a broadcast via National Theatre Live, the multi-award-winning production now faces a new challenge: can it hit the back of the net with an entirely different audience on the road?
Written by James Graham (whose recent production Punch opens in the West End this autumn) and directed by Rupert Goold, Dear England charts Gareth Southgate’s transformation of the England men’s national team as their manager. While theatre and football might not traditionally go hand in hand, this production discovers real significance in the overlap. This production offers audiences a subtle exploration of identity, mental health, leadership, and national pride, all whilst celebrating the emotional stakes and unifying power of this beautiful game.
The writing packs a lot into its 2 hours and 50 minutes. We follow how Southgate, in turn, attempts to shift the perception of what has long been considered ‘The Impossible Job’. In Dear England, we see how he aims not just to obtain glory but to become a more unified team overall. Whilst there is a sense of a lot of emotion behind this show, there is some brilliantly placed humour which encourages light relief and interjections of some well-known football-inspired songs of decades gone by.
Some of the topics dealt with - particularly around national pride and identity - resonate particularly with audiences. They are dealt with an unformidable force, and the impact is so clear to see and hear when you are in the auditorium. This piece has developed since it was initially premiered in 2023, which definitely aids in giving Dear England a fresher feel for those who may have already seen the show before.
Aesthetically, Dear England uses Jon Clark’s lighting design and Ash J Woodward’s video design to become a visually dynamic experience. The space transforms seamlessly from buzzing stadiums to more private moments. The strength in this collaboration ensures that Dear England can acknowledge and amplify the intensity and spectacle of football overall.
Dear England is brought to life by a stellar collective. Bringing to life real-life characters are Jake Ashton-Nelson, Luke Azille, Jass Beki, Ashley Byam, Oscar Gough, Jayden Hanley, Connor Hawker, Tom Lane, Jack Maddison, and Liam Price-Donnelly. Their ability to transform into the recognisable footballers is almost immediate; they don’t just capture the physicality and movement of the players, but they also have distinct personalities and dynamics within the team. The subtle mannerisms and pitch-perfect accents enable each of the actors to flourish in this production.
David Sturzaker’s turn as Gareth Southgate is also notably brilliant in Dear England. Portraying a guy who holds the weight of public expectation and doubt within himself, Sturzaker shows true depth and gives an award-worthy performance.
There’s also an overriding question around this show that I’m often asked: Can you enjoy Dear England even if you aren’t a football fan? Absolutely. Graham’s writing is so layered, and the performances are so compelling. No matter what your relationship is to the beautiful game, Dear England offers audiences something incredibly inspiring and emotionally resonant. Who knows, it might just turn you into a fully fledged fan by the final whistle!
Dear England embarks on a UK tour until March 2026
★★★★★
