James Graham’s acclaimed play Dear England will take in New Wimbledon Theatre as part of a new UK tour that will begin later this year.
Directed by Rupert Goold (Patriots, King Charles III), Dear England tells the uplifting, at times heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring story of Gareth Southgate’s revolutionary tenure as England manager in this gripping examination of nation and game.
It’s time to change the game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. The England men’s 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.
The Olivier Award-winning ‘Best New Play’ will tour to 16 venues across England from September 15, 2025 until March 14, 2026, in a coproduction with Josh Andrews and Stuart Galbraith for JAS Theatricals. It will play at New Wimbledon Theatre from February 24-28, 2026.
Goold is joined by set designer Es Devlin; costume designer Evie Gurney; lighting designer Jon Clark; co-movement directors Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf; video designer Ash J Woodward; co-sound designers Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons with additional music by Max Perryment.
Dear England was originally commissioned by the National Theatre and developed with the theatre’s New Work department. Its world premiere was on June 20, 2023, in the Olivier theatre. Following a sold-out run, it transferred to the Prince Edward Theatre in London’s West End, from October 9, 2023 to January 13, 2024. The BBC has commissioned a four-part drama of Dear England based on the stage production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Dear England will be staged at the National Theatre from March 10 to May 24, 2025, followed by a four-week run at the Lowry in Salford. The play has been updated following the 2024 UEFA EURO tournament to reflect Gareth Southgate’s final chapter as England manager, with Gwilym Lee (SAS Rogue Heroes, Bohemian Rhapsody) playing Southgate.
The 2025/2026 national tour of Dear England is a coproduction between National Theatre Productions and JAS Theatricals.
For more information and to sign up for priority booking visit dearenglandonstage.com.
Top image: The cast of Dear England in the West End 2023. Credit Marc Brenner (supplied)