The National Theatre has announced an exciting national tour of its critically acclaimed play Dear England. Written by the award-winning James Graham and directed by Almeida Theatre’s Rupert Goold, this Olivier Award-winning masterpiece dives deep into the heart of the beautiful game, capturing the emotional and cultural rollercoaster of Gareth Southgate’s time as England manager.
Whether you’re a die-hard footy fan or just someone who loves a good story, this is the play that will leave you both inspired and thoroughly entertained.
The Play That Changed the Game
Dear England isn’t your typical football story. Oh no. This is a gripping stage production that takes a raw, emotional, and surprisingly uplifting look at England’s relationship with its national team, its identity, and even its masculinity. At its core, it’s about how Southgate brought more than tactics to the table—he brought empathy, leadership, and a fresh perspective to the sport. And yes, there are those penalty shootout moments we just can’t seem to escape, but here, they’re woven into a story that’s much bigger than the match itself.
Kate Varah, Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre, summed it up perfectly when she said, “Dear England takes the much-loved topic of football and opens up a lens on so much more—English identity, masculinity, and what it means to be a leader.” She added that the production leaves you “wanting to sing and smile in the stalls and gasp at the penalty shoot-outs.” And honestly, who doesn’t want that kind of theatre experience?
James Graham, the creative genius behind the play (and the guy responsible for hits like Sherwood and Quiz), didn’t hold back his enthusiasm either. “I am beyond delighted and grateful that Dear England is heading out on a nation-wide tour across England,” he said. Describing the tour as feeling like “winning the treble,” he pointed out how crucial it is to take theatre beyond the capital.
“It fills me with great excitement and joy that we get to share Rupert’s euphoric and entertaining production, with all its incredible movement and music, once more with audiences around the country,” Graham added.
Where’s It Heading?
The six-month tour kicks off on 15 September 2025 at Theatre Royal Plymouth and will run until 14 March 2026, visiting 16 venues across England. Grab your diary and pop these dates in now, because missing this is just not an option (unless you enjoy FOMO).
- Theatre Royal Plymouth (15 – 20 September 2025)
- Nottingham Theatre Royal (23 – 27 September 2025)
- The Marlowe, Canterbury (7 – 18 October 2025)
- Sheffield Lyceum (21 – 25 October 2025)
- Leeds Grand Theatre (4 – 8 November 2025)
- Theatre Royal Newcastle (11 – 15 November 2025)
- Chichester Festival Theatre (20 – 29 November 2025)
- Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (13 – 17 January 2026)
- Milton Keynes Theatre (20 – 24 January 2026)
- New Theatre, Oxford (27 – 31 January 2026)
- Norwich Theatre Royal (3 – 7 February 2026)
- New Victoria Theatre, Woking (10 – 14 February 2026)
- The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (17 – 21 February 2026)
- New Wimbledon Theatre (24 – 28 February 2026)
- Liverpool Empire (3 – 7 March 2026)
- Birmingham Hippodrome (10 – 14 March 2026)
For ticket details and priority bookings, head over to dearenglandonstage.com. You’ll want to move quickly—this isn’t the kind of thing that’ll have empty seats.
Why This Tour Is a Big Deal
If the idea of theatre about football seems like an odd combo, you’d better believe it’s anything but. After a sold-out run at the National Theatre in 2023, Dear England transferred to London’s West End, smashed box office records, and was crowned with the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2024. Not content with just conquering the stage, the play was even adapted into a four-part drama for the BBC.
For the upcoming tour, the play’s been updated to reflect Gareth Southgate’s final chapter as England manager following the 2024 UEFA Euros. Gwilym Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody, SAS Rogue Heroes) is set to take on the iconic role of Southgate, which all but guarantees a standout performance. The rest of the cast? Well, you’ll just have to wait and see.
And then there’s the creative team. It’s a powerhouse lineup, including Es Devlin on set design, Evie Gurney on costumes, Jon Clark on lighting, Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf as co-movement directors, and Max Perryment providing additional music. Honestly, there’s more creativity here than a bag of tricks from Harry Kane.
What Makes It Special?
At its heart, Dear England is about connection—across the pitch, across the country, and even across the family members who (hopefully) won’t argue over penalties while sitting in the stalls. It resonates whether you’re in it for the football or the story. It’s about hope, leadership, and, yes, sometimes heartbreak. But isn’t football (and life, really) always a bit of both?
Don’t miss this chance to experience a play that the National Theatre’s Kate Varah describes as “joy and hope for all we can achieve in this country.” Whether you cheer, cry, or gasp at the drama, you’ll leave the theatre knowing you’ve been part of something truly special. See you in the stands—or, you know, the stalls.