• NOW ON A MAJOR NATIONAL TOUR UNTIL MARCH 2026 | COMING TO A VENUE NEAR YOU 

The National Theatre’s Olivier Award-winning smash hit is now on a major national tour. 

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.

Football and non-football fans alike will be brought to their feet in this joyous, five-star ‘new stage epic’ (Telegraph). From multi award-winning writer James Graham (Sherwood, BBC) and director Rupert Goold (Patriots, Cold War), Dear England tells the uplifting, at times heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring story of Gareth Southgate’s revolutionary tenure as England manager.

David Sturzaker (Doctors, BBC) plays former England manager Gareth Southgate in this gripping examination of nation and game. He is joined by stage and screen actress Samantha Womack (Eastenders, BBC; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) as team psychologist Pippa Grange.

 

‘A WINNING DRAMA ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL GAME’

The I

‘AS THRILLING AND NAIL-BITING AS A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT’

WhatsOnStage

‘AN UNMISSABLE PIECE OF THEATRE’

Manchester Evening News

‘THE DECADE’S BIGGEST THEATRICAL TRIUMPH’

The Telegraph

‘GRIPPING, MOVING AND FUNNY. THIS IS AS GOOD AS THEATRE GETS’

Sunday Times

‘A TREMENDOUS PIECE OF ENTERTAINMENT’

Time Out

‘JAMES GRAHAM’S FAST-MOVING PORTRAIT OF GARETH SOUTHGATE’S REIGN AS THE ENGLAND FOOTBALL MANAGER. JOYOUS’

The times

TOUR DATES

CANTERBURY

MARLOWE THEATRE

TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER

SHEFFIELD

LYCEUM THEATRE

TUESDAY 21 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER

LEEDS

GRAND THEATRE

TUESDAY 4 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER

NEWCASTLE

THEATRE ROYAL

TUESDAY 11 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER

CHICHESTER

FESTIVAL THEATRE

THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER

SOUTHAMPTON

MAYFLOWER THEATRE

TUESDAY 13 JANUARY – SATURDAY 17 JANUARY 2026

MILTON KEYNES

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE

TUESDAY 20 JANUARY – SATURDAY 24 JANUARY 2026

OXFORD

NEW THEATRE OXFORD

TUESDAY 27 JANUARY – SATURDAY 31 JANUARY 2026

NORWICH

THEATRE ROYAL

TUESDAY 3 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2026

WOKING

NEW VICTORIA THEATRE

TUESDAY 10 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2026

BRADFORD

ALHAMBRA THEATRE

TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2026

WIMBLEDON

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE

TUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2026

LIVERPOOL

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE

TUESDAY 3 MARCH – SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2026

BIRMINGHAM

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME

TUESDAY 10 MARCH – SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2026