

-
NATIONAL TOUR KICKS OFF SEPTEMBER 2025 | TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
The National Theatre’s Olivier Award-winning smash hit kicks off a highly anticipated national tour this Autumn.
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
From multi award-winning writer James Graham (Sherwood, BBC) and director Rupert Goold (Patriots, Cold War), this joyous, five-star ‘new stage epic’ (Telegraph) 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.
Please note this is a fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams, based on extensive research and interviews. It features characters inspired by some real-life individuals, and some composite characters entirely imagined by the author.
TOUR DATES
PLYMOUTH
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH
MONDAY 15 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER
NOTTINGHAM
THEATRE ROYAL
TUESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
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
Gallery
Photography of 2025 National Theatre cast by Marc Brenner