You don’t need to be a football expert to be swept up in the Dear England emotional highs, as James Graham delivers yet another triumph.
Before Gareth Southgate became England men’s manager in 2016, he was largely remembered for missing that crucial penalty in Euro ’96. James Graham’s Dear England opens at this moment of national infamy. Once mocked and blamed, Southgate’s unexpected journey toward redemption and his transformative impact on the team couldn’t have been foreseen.
The play follows Southgate as he takes on what’s often called the toughest job in football. Aware of how crippling the fear of failure can be, he focuses on players’ mental wellbeing before their performance on the pitch.
With the help of sports psychologist Pippa Grange, the squad grows more self-aware and open, though they are labelled ‘woke’ and ‘soft’ by critics, Southgate’s approach begins to pay off—and a hopeful nation follows.
After successful runs at the National and Prince Edward theatres, reviving the play feels timely, now that Southgate’s story has reached a natural pause.
Graham has updated the ending to give the manager’s legacy the emotional weight it deserves – although a 2024 Euros win would’ve made for a dream finale—but it wasn’t to be.
Gwilym Lee gives a beautifully understated performance as Southgate. In a world of dominant male leadership, Lee’s portrayal of the calm, courteous, and morally grounded manager—with his tentative tone and expressive eyebrows—is spot on.
Ryan Whittle, previously Eric Dier, now plays captain Harry Kane, brings warmth and quiet authority to a figure often underestimated behind his awkward exterior.
And though women aren’t central to the story, Liz White makes an impact as the perceptive Pippa Grange, who deftly connects the national team’s mindset with the country’s collective psychology.
Throughout there is also a fleeting nod to the Lionesses’ achievements, though their tale remains a story for another time.
Among a strong ensemble, Josh Barrow impresses as an explosive Jordan Pickford, while Jude Carmichael makes a strong debut as the thoughtful Marcus Rashford. And the cast skilfully take on multiple roles—Gunnar Cauthery’s pitch-perfect Gary Lineker, crisps, and all, is a standout.
Rupert Goold’s sharp direction combines seamlessly with Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf’s dynamic movement work, particularly during a nerve-jangling recreation of the 2018 penalty shootout against Colombia.
Es Devlin’s striking set design, with glowing ovals evoking stadium arches and a revolving circular stage, keeps the energy in constant motion.
You don’t need to be a football expert to be swept up in the show’s emotional highs—from the ecstasy of victory to the weight of national expectation and the raw pain of racist abuse targeting Black players.
Ironically, the show’s only real flaw is just how much football it contains. For die-hard fans, the packed three-hour runtime may be a gift—but for others, it can feel a bit much.
Still, Dear England is undeniably smart, heartfelt, and compelling, and with this, James Graham delivers yet another triumph.
Dear England runs at The Lowry in Salford from 29th May to 29th June – more information can be found here.
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