Dear England
The beautiful game comes alive on stage with Dear England play tickets
A new football season is starting in London this autumn, as the hugely acclaimed Dear England play shoots and scores its way to the Prince Edward Theatre. Joseph Fiennes stars as Gareth Southgate in Olivier Award winner James Graham’s (Ink; This House) drama that follows the trials, tribulations and eventual rise of the England men’s football team over the last few decades. After playing a sold-out season at the National Theatre, this “new stage epic” (The Telegraph) show is in the West End for a limited time only.
England is the country that gave the world football but never seems to come out on top. Is winning at our own game simply a pipe dream? Enter Gareth Southgate, the man with the worst track record for penalties in the world. As he prepares to lead the Three Lions into the World Cup, he knows he’ll have to dig deep, confront past failures, and give it everything he’s got.
James Graham’s Dear England play is a thrilling and smart exploration of sport and national identity based on real events and interviews with people involved in English football. It premiered at the National Theatre in 2023 and was an instant hit. Graham’s other work includes Ink, This House, Quiz and crime drama Sherwood on the BBC, and he is one of the most incisive playwrights working today, with a keen eye for the political, the personal, and stories that tap into the modern zeitgeist.
Dear England is directed by Rupert Goold, who previously worked with Graham on the Tammy Faye musical at the Almeida Theatre in 2022.
The cast of Dear England is led by Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale; Shakespeare in Love) as Gareth Southgate, in a performance praised as “pitch-perfect” by Time Out London. The uncanny portrayals of some of the biggest names in sport are matched by incredible talent on stage – with more casting to be confirmed.
Whether you’re a footie fan, a theatre fan, or just fascinated by the cultural impact of the beautiful game, don’t miss Dear England in the West End this year.
Child friendly?
The Dear England play age recommendations are to be confirmed.