The National Theatre has revealed that Olivier-award winning play, Dear England will tour UK theatres, telling the story of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England football manager.
Described as a “gripping examination of nation and game”, Dear England won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2024.
Opening on 15th September at Theatre Royal Plymouth, it will travel to the likes of Sheffield (21st October - 25th October), Newcastle (11th November - 15th November), Milton Keynes (20th January - 24th January 2026) and Oxford (27th January - 31st January 2026), before finishing up at Birmingham Hippodrome on 14th March 2026.
Full touring venues and dates can be found via the Dear England website.
The show is written by James Graham (Sherwood, BBC One) and was developed with the theatre’s New Work department.
Following a sold-out run at the Olivier Theatre it transferred to the Prince Edward Theatre, in London’s West End, from October 2023 to January 2024, where it broke box office records.
The production was subsequently released to cinemas through National Theatre Live in January 2024 and has been screened almost 2,500 times across the UK. In February 2024, the BBC announced it had commissioned a four-part drama of Dear England based on the stage production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
James Graham said: “I am beyond delighted and grateful that Dear England is heading out on a nationwide tour. To put the national game on the stage of the National Theatre and then in the West End back in 2023 was an utter dream. Now, to head out on a tour feels like winning the treble.
“As someone from a community that had limited access to culture growing up, I’m especially aware of how vital it is to share work of such a scale beyond the capital. And as a lifelong theatre and England fan, the chance to tell a story about the beautiful game and through the prism of Gareth Southgate’s transformative term has been a privilege.”
About the play
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.
Kate Varah, executive director & co-chief executive of the National Theatre, said: “This is a brilliant play that 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.
“We had a tremendous reaction to Dear England when it was with us on the Southbank, and in the West End. Director Rupert Goold has crafted such a wonderful production that will leave you wanting to sing and smile in the stalls and gasp at the penalty shoot-outs.”
Group rates are venue specific. For more information go to dearenglandonstage.com
