Dear England

Dear England
Written byJames Graham
Directed byRupert Goold
Date premiered20 June 2023
Place premieredOlivier Theatre, National Theatre London
SubjectSport
GenreDrama

Dear England is a play about England football manager Gareth Southgate, the pressures of elite sport, and the role of the national men's football team in the national psyche. The play explores how Southgate helped to change notions of masculinity on the England team.[1][2][3] Written by James Graham, it opened in June 2023 at the National Theatre in London starring Joseph Fiennes and directed by Rupert Goold.[4][5] The title of the play comes from the open letter Southgate wrote to England fans in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][6]

The play won the 2024 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Play and Will Close won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for his portrayal of Harry Kane.

Playwright James Graham said after the England men lost the UEFA Euro 2024 final to Spain that he would rewrite the ending of Dear England to bring it up to date.[7]

  1. ^ Hemming, Sarah (21 June 2023). "Dear England, National Theatre — James Graham scores a winner with exhilarating football play". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b Glynn, Paul (21 June 2023). "Dear England: Gareth Southgate play hits back of the net, critics say". BBC News. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  3. ^ Galton, Bridget (21 June 2023). "Review: Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate in Dear England at National Theatre". Ham & High. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  4. ^ "'Dear England' examines the country through its football manager". The Economist. 21 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  5. ^ Akbar, Arifa (20 June 2023). "Dear England review – touching, funny retelling of Gareth Southgate's quiet revolution". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  6. ^ Crompton, Sarah (21 June 2023). "Dear England at the National Theatre review – the beautiful game in a beautiful play". Whats On Stage. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  7. ^ Oakley, Tom (15 July 2024). "Gareth Southgate play to be updated after Euros defeat". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2024.