Dear England
by James Graham
The Olivier Award-winning smash hit returns to 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.
Writer James Graham (Punch, Nottingham Playhouse; Sherwood, BBC) updates his epic examination of nation and game to reflect Gareth Southgate’s final chapter as England manager. Rupert Goold (Patriots, Cold War, Almeida Theatre) once again directs this ‘back-of-the-net winner’ (The i).
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.
Other ways to watch
The original 2023 production
Reviews
For the original 2023 production
‘A theatrical spectacle as uplifting as any England victory.’
Telegraph
★★★★★
‘A back-of-the-net winner’
The i
★★★★★
‘The beautiful game in a beautiful play’
WhatsOnStage
Suitability
Please note: This performance contains 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 announced
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
Revival Director
Elin Schofield
Elin Schofield
Elin Schofield is a director, writer and movement director.
Casting Director
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, Coriolanus, London Tide, Dear Octopus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, The Odyssey, Dear England (also in the West End), 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: Coriolanus, Dear England, Jane Eyre, Waste, One Man, Two Guvnors, A Taste of Honey, NT 50 Years On Stage, HOME, Romeo and Juliet, This House, Port, Cocktail Sticks and Hymn
Voice Coach
Cathleen McCarron
Cathleen McCarron
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company, Coriolanus, Mnemonic (2024, a co-production with Complicité), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Confessions, Dear England, The Motive and the Cue, Death of England: Closing Time and Romeo and Julie
Voice Coach
Tamsin Newlands
Tamsin Newlands
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, A Tupperware of Ashes, The Hot Wing King, Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, Jekyll & Hyde and The House of Bernarda Alba
Staff Director
Connie Treves
Connie Treves
Ticket prices
Monday – Saturday evenings and matinees:
£25, £39, £59, £79, £99
Previews 10 – 14 March:
£20, £35, £49, £64, £79
For concessions and discounts, see Ways to save
Please note the 6.30pm start time on the following performances: Tue 8 April, Thu 17 April, Thu 1 May and Tue 6 May.
Visit our Ticketing FAQs for information on how to book, ticket exchanges and more.
Prices may change according to demand
Assisted performances
Captioned
BSL Interpreted
Audio described
No Chilled performance available.
No Dementia-friendly performances available.
Relaxed performance
The interpreter for the BSL performance will be announced closer to the performance date.
Audio-described performances are preceded by a Touch Tour, 90 minutes before the performance start time. Call the Access line on 020 7452 3961 to book Touch Tours.
We have an allocation of tickets held for members of our Access scheme and if any of the assisted performances above are shown as “Sold Out”, tickets may still be available: Please log in to your account to view all available tickets, or call Box Office on 020 7452 3961
Smart caption glasses
Are planned to be available for performances of Dear England from 7.30pm, Wednesday 26 March.
Bookshop
Buy the poster for the original run of Dear England
Visit the Bookshop website for a wide range of playtexts, gifts and prints of past production posters.