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Dear England

at the Prince Edward Theatre

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

9 October 2023 — 13 January 2024
This show has now ended
The event location is

Prince Edward Theatre

Old Compton Street, London W1D 4HS

Dear England will be broadcast in cinemas from 25 January

Ticket bookings were processed on a 3rd party site operated by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres. Personal and booking data will be shared with the National Theatre for analytical purposes.

It’s time to change the game.

The smash-hit production of Dear England transfers to the West End this Autumn, following a sold-out run at 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.

Joseph Fiennes portrayal of Gareth Southgate is ‘pitch-perfect’ (Time Out) in this ‘thrilling’ (Sunday Times) new play by James Graham, with set design by Es Devlin. Graham reunites with director Rupert Goold, following their acclaimed productions of Tammy Faye and Ink, in this gripping ’new stage epic’ (Telegraph) about 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.

A man in a waistcoat, tie and blue shirt stands impassively, arms folded, surrounded by five men wearing England football kits (red shirts and shorts, white socks), celebrating wildly.

Dear England – in cinemas now.

Joseph Fiennes plays Gareth Southgate in this gripping examination of both nation and game. A new play by James Graham, directed by Rupert Goold.

A live recording of the original Olivier Theatre production.

Find a cinema near you

Video

A man wearing a grey England football kit with the number 6 on it, stands on an empty stage, hands on hips, head bowed. An image of stands in a football stadium is projected behind him.
Play Video

Dear England: Official Trailer | Prince Edward Theatre

Play Video

Reviews

★★★★★

‘James Graham’s new stage epic. Tremendous.’

Daily Telegraph

★★★★★

‘The beautiful game in a beautiful play.’

WhatsOnStage

★★★★

‘A brilliant fusion of sport and art.’

Evening Standard

★★★★

‘A glorious, generous rollercoaster … That’s what winning looks like.’

Financial Times

★★★★

‘He shoots, he scores. Graham’s fast-moving portrait of Gareth Southgate’s reign as the England football manager.’

The Times

5 Reviews

Gallery

A white man stands in a navy suit waistcoat and trousers, he wears a lighter blue shirt underneath with a blue, white and blue striped tie. He has his hand aloft with a clenched fist. He has a medium length beard and brown hair.
A white man stands in a navy suit waistcoat and trousers, he wears a lighter blue shirt underneath with a blue, white and blue striped tie. He has his hand aloft with a clenched fist. He has a medium length beard and brown hair.
A white man stands in a navy suit waistcoat and trousers, he wears a lighter blue shirt underneath with a blue, white and blue striped tie. He has his hand aloft with a clenched fist. He has a medium length beard and brown hair.
View 12 images
A woman in an England tracksuit stands, arms outstretched, talking. A man in a yellow goalkeepers kit stands behind her, looking at her. Another man in an England tracksuit and white shirt stands behind her, looking away. A man stands, hands on hips, he wears a white England shirt with the number 9, his mouth is open, talking, and he stares straight ahead. Behind him is a film still of Bobby Moore holding the World Cup aloft. A group of men are doing training exercises and wearing white England fotball kits, with either a green or orange bib. Two other men walk behind them, one wearing shorts and tracksuit top, the other a full tracksuit. A man in an Englan coach jacket points at a whiteboard on which is written Story I II III. Men in white england kits stand and sit looking at the board. Another, older man in an England tracksuit, stands to one side A group of men and one woman pose for a team photograph. most wearing blue suits, one man wearing shorts and England tracksuit top, another man, older than the rest, wears a black suit.The woman wears an England tracksuit. A man walks towards us, wearing a grey England football kit with teh number 6 on it. Behind him is projected a football stadium with twin towers. A group of men, most wearing red England football kit and one in a green goalie uniform, are in various stages of celebration after a goal. The image of a football stadium and the word GOAL is projected behind them. A man stands, speaking, wearing a waistcoat, trousers, light blue shirt and dark tie, one hand raised sligtly, index finger pointing. To the side of him sit a number of men listening, most wearing white England fotball kits with either a green or orange bib, others wearing tracksuits. A man stands, both hands raised, index fingers pointing up. He wears a white England shirt with the number 17. A football stadium is projected behind him. A group of men are wearing red England football kit. One leaps as if to head a ball and the others are standing round him, watching and anticipating the result of the header. The image of a football stadium and the words TUN 0 - 0 ENG, repeated, are projected behind them. A number of people wearing a mix of football kits, tracksuits, suits, ecclesiastical clothing, flags, are standing in a semi-circle, most looking excited. Above them is a white circle and in the inside is projected CRO 2 - 1 ENG, repeated, in red on black.

Production images

Suitability

Please note: This performance contains offensive language, strobe lights, bright lights directly focused at the audience and loud noises throughout.

Preferred Payment Partner of the National TheatreAmerican Express logo

Production team

Playwright

James Graham

James Graham

Director

Rupert Goold

Rupert Goold

Set Designer

Es Devlin

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

Tom Gibbons

Additional Music

Max Perryment

Max Perryment

Video Designer

Ash J Woodward

Ash J Woodward

Casting Director

Bryony Jarvis-Taylor

Bryony Jarvis-Taylor

Dialect Coach

Richard Ryder

Richard Ryder

Voice Coach

Cathleen McCarron

Cathleen McCarron

Associate Director

Elin Schofield

Elin Schofield

Associate Set Designer

Will Brown

Will Brown

Associate Lighting Designer

Ben Jacobs

Ben Jacobs

 

 

Poster photography by Rick Guest and CGI by Rob Rae