The play is based on Gareth Southgate’s England team and will begin performances on the 10th June.
Full casting has been announced for the upcoming play from James Graham (Best of Enemies, Sherwood) who reunites with director Rupert Goold (Spring Awakening, Judy) to tell the story the England men’s football team under Gareth Southgate’s management. The news comes as rehearsal images for the production are released.
Joining the previously announced Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mother) as Gareth Southgate is Gina McKee (My Policeman, Bodyguard) who will play Pippa Grange, sports psychologist and Head of People and Team Development at The Football Association from 2017 until 2019. The cast also includes: Josh Barrow as Jordan Pickford, Gunnar Cauthery as Gary Lineker, Will Close as Harry Kane, Crystal Condie as Alex Scott, Will Fletcher as Jordan Henderson, Sean Gilder as Sam Allardyce, Darragh Hand as Marcus Rashford, John Hodgkinson as Greg Clarke, Adam Hugill as Harry Maguire, Albert Magashi as Jadon Sancho, Kel Matsena as Raheem Sterling, Abdul Sessay as Bukayo Saka, Lewis Shepherd as Dele Alli, Paul Thornley as Mike Webster, Tony Turner as Greg Dyke and Ryan Whittle as Eric Dier. Nick Barclay, Tashinga Bepete, Will Harrison-Wallace and Miranda Heath complete the company.
The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?
With the worst track record for penalties in the world, 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 National Theatre will also be partnering with Football Beyond Borders (FBB) on opportunities linked to Dear England for young people. FBB works with young people from areas of socio-economic disadvantage who are passionate about football but disengaged at school, to help them finish school with the skills and grades to make a successful transition into adulthood.
Opportunities around this partnership will include a published Zine, which features letters addressing the themes in the production through the lens of young people living in England today. This Zine will provide a unique entry point to theatre alongside free tickets for FBB young people and workshops centred around Dear England. Full details to be announced.
The creative team behind the production will include: set design by Es Devlin, costume design by Evie Gurney, lighting design by Jon Clark, movement direction by Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, sound design by Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons, video design by Ash J Woodward, casting by Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, dialect coach Richard Ryder and associate director Elin Schofield.
Dear England will play in the Olivier theatre from 10 June with press night on 20 June and a final performance on 11 August. To book tickets visit: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/dear-england/