The tour of James Graham’s critically acclaimed play will visit the Woking based theatre from the 10th to the 14th February 2026.
It has been confirmed that the Olivier Award winning play Dear England is set to embark on a UK tour beginning this Autumn at the Plymouth Theatre Royal on 15 September and heading to Woking in 2026.
It’s time to change the game. 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?
The 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 play was written by James Graham (Sherwood, BBC One; Quiz, ITV) and directed by the Almeida Theatre’s Artistic Director Rupert Goold (Patriots, King Charles III). It first premiered at the National Theatre in the summer of 2023 before transferring to the West End and will return to the National Theatre next month.
Talking about the news, James Graham said: “I am beyond delighted and grateful that Dear England is heading out on a nation-wide tour across England. 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 nation-wide 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. I think he has been a remarkable leader, and 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.”
While casting for the tour has yet to be announced, the creative team includes: 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.
To find out more visit: https://dearenglandonstage.com/