Skip to main content

Dear England

a new play by James Graham

A lone figure stands, his back to us, wearing a waistcoat, shirt and trousers, in the centre of the red cross of the England flag that appears as a landscape rolling off into the distance.

Booking and details

In select international cinemas
Find a venue near you

This production ran in the Olivier Theatre from 10 June to 11 August 2023.
It then transferred to the Prince Edward Theatre from 9 October 2023 to 13 January 2024.

The recording available on NT Live was made in the Olivier Theatre.

It’s time to change the game.

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?

With the worst track record for penalties in the world, 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 (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mother) plays Gareth Southgate in this new play by James Graham (Best of Enemies, Sherwood). Following their acclaimed productions, Tammy Faye and Ink, he reunites with director Rupert Goold (Spring Awakening, Judy) for this gripping examination of 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 10 June — 11 August 2023 in the Olivier Theatre.

inews review for Dear England

★★★★★

‘A back-of-the-net winner’

The i

Telegraph review for Dear England

★★★★★

‘Tremendous’

Telegraph

What's on Stage revew for Dear England

★★★★★

‘The beautiful game in a beautiful play’

WhatsOnStage

Evening Standard review for Dear England

★★★★

‘A brilliant fusion of sport and art’

Evening Standard

★★★★

‘Pitch-perfect’

The Times 

★★★★

‘A big-hearted, technically dazzling celebration of football’

Time Out

★★★★

‘What winning looks like’

Financial Times 

★★★★

‘Will put a smile on your face’

The Stage 

8 Reviews

Nominated for nine Olivier Awards 2024 including:

  • Best New Play
  • Best Actor – Joseph Fiennes
  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Will Close
  • Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Gina McKee
  • Best Director – Rupert Goold
  • Best Set Design – Es Devlin and Ash J Woodward
  • Best Lighting Design – Jon Clark
  • Best Sound Design – Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons
  • Best Theatre Choreographer – Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf

Suitability

Please note: This production contains flashing lights, loud noises and some offensive language.

Supporters

The commissioning of this production was generously supported by the Sir Peter Shaffer Charitable Foundation.

Supported by Marcia B Whitaker, Clive & Sally Sherling and our team of Production Champions: The Broughton Family Charitable Trust, Sir Damon & Lady Buffini, Sabine & Richard Chalmers, Mark and Sarah Crosbie, Cas Donald, Priya Heal, Soo & Jonathan Hitchin, The Hope Kenwright Foundation, Ian & Beth Mill and The Williams Charitable Trust.

Videos

A man wearing a white football shirt with a Nike logo and an emblem on the chest stands, he has a peroxided hair style shaves close at the sides but left long on top/ He is smiling looking to his right.
Play Video

Meet the team

Play Video:

Meet the team

Gallery

Open Gallery Dialog: 16 images A group of men are in a group, they all wear red England kit and are in various stages of celebration after a goal. Some are on their knees, all are exclaiming. One of the men is in a green goalie uniform.
A group of men are in a group, they all wear red England kit and are in various stages of celebration after a goal. Some are on their knees, all are exclaiming. One of the men is in a green goalie uniform.
A group of men are in a group, they all wear red England kit and are in various stages of celebration after a goal. Some are on their knees, all are exclaiming. One of the men is in a green goalie uniform.
View 16 images
A group of men stand in formation for a photo, a row of men at the front kneel. They are all wearing blue suits with red, white and blue striped ties. One men on the end wears a blue tracksuit with a Nike tick and the England emblem on his chest. On the other end a man stands wearing a black suit with the England emblem on the chest. Next to him stands a woman wearing a unzipped blue tracksuit top with a xip, under she wears a white shirt A man is mid air, mid high kick, his arm is outstretched his knees are in the air bent. He wears the red England strip. His face is focused. Behind him blurred are other players in the same strip. A man stands with his knees bent, he wears a green goalie uniform. His hands are ready to catch a ball, he is wearing goalie gloves, his face looks determined. He has short blonde hair. Behind him the rest of the players stand bent over focused, wearing the red England strip. above their heads shows a penalty score between ENG and COL A man with peroxide blond topped hair stands, his arms out-stretched and knees bent, he wears a red England strip, his mouth is open and his eyes are in a state of disbelief. Behind him stands a row of other players. A man stands with his hands on his hips, looking down at the ground. He wears a blue football strip from 1996. He is up-lit, behind him is a projection of a stadium. A man stands with his hand, aloft mid speech. He wears a grey England zip front, he has medium length beard and brown combed over hair. Behind him is a red England strip on a wooden door. A man stands in a grey suit with the white England emblem of the three lions his arm is extended with a clenched fist. He has grey hair. Behind him is a white England strip shirt and a red England strip shirt. A man stands in a blue windbreaker with the Nike tick and the England emblem on the chest. He has a brown medium beard and brown hair parted. Behind him stands another man wearing the same but he is older with greying hair, he has his arms folded. Behind them are two white England strip shirts hanging on wooden doors. A man stands holding a clipboard, he wears a navy blue zipped top with the England emblem and the Nike tick. Underneath he is wearing a white tshirt. he has strawberry blonde hair, around his neck is a stop watch. Behind him is a white England strip shirt. A woman stands, she has grey hair is a long bob. She is wearing a dark over coat with a grey shirt underneath, A red lanyard is around her neck. he hands are held together in front of her. She has a slight smile. A man stands in a blue outfit, a navy blue windbreaker with a white England emblem on the chest he holds a hand in the air with a finger poiunting up. Next to him stands a young man in a yellow goal keepers uniform, he is putting on gloves. A white man stands in a navy suit waistcoat and trousers, he wears a lighter blue shirt underneath with a blue, white and red striped tie. He has his hand aloft with a clenched fist, with a string bracelet on his wrist. His other han is in his pocket with a watch on this wrist. He has a medium length beard and brown hair. A woman with brown long hair which is half tied up stands. She wears a bright blue England windbreaker with the emblem on the chest. She is looking to the side, her hands hanging down. A man stands, his fist raised in celebration. His mouth is open, he wears a white lab coat and a white small brimmed hat, under his lab coat is a blue t-shirt. Next to him stands a younger man wearing a white windbreaker with red stripes. and FB in graffiti style print on the lower half. he is looking at the other man who has his arm around him. A man in a dark blue suit trousers and waistcoat, he wears a lighter blue shirt underneath and a blue, white and red striped tie. He holds both his fists up in celebration. he has a medium length brown beard and brown hair, his eyes are close as his exclaims in victory. Behind him are a row of men in red England football strips all in various degrees of shock and celebration.

On stage

Open Gallery Dialog: 12 images A man stands, he has a medium beard which is dark apart from a few flecks of grey. His brow is furrowed his eyes are worried. He is turned three quarters towards the camera. He wears a light grey sweatshirt.
A man stands, he has a medium beard which is dark apart from a few flecks of grey. His brow is furrowed his eyes are worried. He is turned three quarters towards the camera. He wears a light grey sweatshirt.
A man stands, he has a medium beard which is dark apart from a few flecks of grey. His brow is furrowed his eyes are worried. He is turned three quarters towards the camera. He wears a light grey sweatshirt.
View 12 images
A man stands pointing at his head. His hair is peroxide dyed at the top he looks towards the right. He has a beard of medium length. He wears a gold chain around his neck and a t-shirt that is colour blocked horizontally with two shade of blue A woman with a grey long bob tucked behind her ears stands, she is looking down towards the right hand side. She is holding a script in her hand. She is wearing a red and white striped t-shirt and black trousers. she wears a simple necklace. A man stands with his arms raised, his head is looking up towards a football which he is anticipating bouncing off his chest. He wears a blue long sleeved top and a red bib vest over the top. A man stands in a blue t-shirt, he is holding a microphone, he looks to the left, his face is straight. he has strawberry blonde hair. Behind him stands another man in a blue t-shirt who's face is blurred by the focus. Next to him stands a woman who is wearing a green shirt with a button polo neck, her dark hair is up in a ponytail. She is also obscured by the camera focus. A man is bent over, his mouth is open in a victorious shout. he has medium brown hair, he is wearing black shorts, and goalie gloves which are in clenched fists. Behind him stands another man who has long blonder hair, he is leaning back with his arms in the air in celebration, he has both index fingers pointing upwards. His head is tilted back in celebration. A black man stands with his hands in his pockets, his trousers are a jungle scene print. He wears a Cliff Richard band t-shirt, with a picture of Cliff with his hands up whilst stood in front of a car, he wears a blue Addidas zipped sweat shirt with a white horizontal stripe. A white man sits on the floor, he wears a blue tracksuit top with vertical three stripes down the arm and horizontal three stripes across the chest. he had black joggers on and grey trainers. His knee is bent and he is holding his ankle with one hand. the other hand is touching the floor just by the fingertips. He has strawberry blond hair which is slightly long on top, he has a light stubbled bears and blue eyes. A young man wears over ear headphones, he is looking down at the ball he is playing keepy up with. He has afro hair which is shaved at the side but the top is long and peroxide dyed on the top. He wears a dark blue tshirt which says Utah State across the chest. He wears black jogger style shorts, he has white sport socks up to the ankle which have an orange band around them. He wears blue trainers. An older white man with shaggy hair on top is sat he is looking over black rimmed glasses to his left. He has light white stubble. His arms are folded but half of his body is obstructed by another man with his back to the camera wearing a blue shirt. A white man with longish hair that is tucked behind his ears stands. He is looking to his left with his body turned three quarters towards the camers, he wears a black tracksuit zipped top. down the arms have a patterned strip that looks like sound waves, There are three lions in a crest on the chest on one side and a blue tick on the other. he is half smiling. A white man is reclining on the floor, he has dark blond hair in a close crop, he has a beard that has gone past stubble. he is looking towards his right, He is lent back on his elbows, wearing a red sweatshirt and blue trousers. His moth is slightly open.

In rehearsal

Cast

Nick Barclay
Nick Barclay photo portrait

Nick Barclay

Ensemble

Josh Barrow
Josh Barrow photo portrait

Josh Barrow

Jordan Pickford

Tashinga Bepete
Tashinga Bepete photo portrait

Tashinga Bepete

Ensemble

Bill Caple
Bill Caple photo portrait

Bill Caple

Ensemble

Gunnar Cauthery
Gunnar Cauthery photo portrait

Gunnar Cauthery

Gary Lineker

Will Close
Will Close photo portait

Will Close

Harry Kane

Crystal Condie
Crystal Condie photo portrait

Crystal Condie

Alex Scott

Joseph Fiennes
Joseph Fiennes photo portrait

Joseph Fiennes

Gareth Southgate

Will Fletcher
Will Fletcher photo portrait

Will Fletcher

Jordan Henderson

Sean Gilder
Sean Gilder photo portrait

Sean Gilder

Sam Allardyce

Ebenezer Gyau
Ebenezer Gyau photo portrait

Ebenezer Gyau

Bukayo Saka

Darragh Hand
Darragh Hand photo portrait

Darragh Hand

Marcus Rashford

Will Harrison-Wallace
Will Harrison-Wallace photo portrait

Will Harrison-Wallace

Ensemble

Miranda Heath
Miranda Heath photo portrait

Miranda Heath

Ensemble

John Hodgkinson
John Hodgkinson photo portrait

John Hodgkinson

Greg Clarke

Adam Hugill
Adam Hugill photo portrait

Adam Hugill

Harry Maguire

Albert Magashi
Albert Magashi photo portrait

Albert Magashi

Jadon Sancho

Kel Matsena
Kel Matsena photo portrait

Kel Matsena

Raheem Sterling

Gina McKee
Gina McKee photo portrait

Gina McKee

Pippa Grange

Lewis Shepherd
Lewis Shepherd photo portrait

Lewis Shepherd

Dele Alli

Paul Thornley
Paul Thornley photo portrait

Paul Thornley

Mike Webster

Tony Turner
Tony Turner photo portrait

Tony Turner

Greg Dyke

Ryan Whittle
Ryan Whittle photo portrait

Ryan Whittle

Eric Dier

Production team

Writer

James Graham

James Graham

Director

Rupert Goold

Rupert Goold

Set Designer

Es Devlin

Costume Designer

Evie Gurney 

Evie Gurney 

Lighting Designer

Jon Clark

Jon Clark

Co-Movement Director

Ellen Kane

Ellen Kane

Co-Movement Director

Hannes Langolf

Hannes Langolf

Co-Sound Designer

Dan Balfour

Dan Balfour

Co-Sound Designer

Tom Gibbons

Additional Music

Max Perryment

Max Perryment

Video Designer

Ash J Woodward

Casting Director

Bryony Jarvis-Taylor

Dialect Coach

Richard Ryder

Richard Ryder

Associate Director

Elin Schofield

Elin Schofield

Associate Set Designer

Will Brown

Will Brown

Associate Lighting Designer

Ben Jacobs

Ben Jacobs

 

 

Photography by Rick Guest and CGI by Rob Rae