DEAR ENGLAND - The Lowry, Salford (01/06/25)

If there's one constant about the people of England, it's that they can always count on football and, more specifically, their international team, to unite them in agony and ecstasy every couple of years, in the seemingly endless quest to see football "come home" for a change. Nobody else in recent years has managed to galvanise the nation quite like Gareth Southgate, whom, though a polarising figure, has a lasting legacy that simply cannot be denied, regardless of whether his tenure as England manager yielded silverware.

It's the story behind Southgate's storied and heavily documented stint in perhaps the most sought after, yet cursed office in English football that is the focal point of James Graham's Olivier winning play "Dear England", though what does become clear over time is that this is a piece of theatre that has more to it than meets the eye, and provides us with far more narrative depth than one may come to expect of a play about the nation's favourite pastime. For this, Graham, along with director Rupert Goold, deserve bucketloads of adulation and respect.

The company of Dear England (credit: Marc Brennan)

At the very heart of Dear England is the ever growing and developing discussion surrounding mental health among men in particular, since, as much as we men may hate to admit it, expressing our internalised doubts and fears is just about one of the healthiest thin we can do psychologically; for pro athletes of the calibre of the England team, with the eyes and hopes of an entire nation on their shoulders, this inner struggle is amplified multiple times over. This is expressed in an amusingly facetious, yet beautifully sincere and authentic manner by the men portraying the biggest names in English football.

The nature of the game, but especially at the very highest level, can be both electrifying and devastating in equal measure, and both Graham and Goold manage to capture this dichotomy brilliantly through a sleek mix of brilliantly original design elements and incorporation of real match footage that will no doubt trigger a strong, albeit painful sense of nostalgia for many of us. Scenic designer Es Devlin, in collaboration with some riveting lighting and video design by Jon Clark and Ash Woodward respectively, provide a breathtaking backdrop to arguably one of the most innovative and original pieces of theatre in recent years. And the exhilarating music and sound incorporation (Max Perryment, Dan Balfour, Tom Gibbons) is certain to have you pumped and yearning to be cheering the lads on at Wembley.

With boots as big as those filled by Joseph Fiennes to fill, anybody following into the role of the central England manager has a mammoth task ahead of them, and it would seem the perfect man for the job is indeed Gwilym Lee, who takes the role of Southgate and fully embodies it. Lee's characterisation is absolutely spot on, and perhaps what's most impressive is how he makes us feel like we're with him in the locker room, on the training pitch, and in his press conferences, you truly believe that he is indeed Southgate.

Tony Turner and Gwilym Lee (credit: Marc Brennan)

But this is of course a team game, and all of his supporting players excel, from Ryan Whittle's pitch perfect take on Harry Kane, to Josh Barrow nailing goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's cocky, fiery nature, and the impressive range of roles depicted by Gunnar Cauthery, including Gary Lineker and Boris Johnson, all to delightful comic effect. Amid the terrific humour though is a wonderful balance of more serious issues that affect players, coaches and fans alike; we are all, at the end of the day (in true footballer parlance) human beings, perhaps differing greatly in backgrounds, preferences and experience, but united in the most fundamental ideas and feelings that make us human.

Dear England is a classic example of a concept that, on paper, would be a hugely difficult sell, however James Graham has created a piece of theatre that transcends its base premise, and delves far deeper than one might expect. It’s not only brilliantly executed, thrilling, funny, and enormously heartfelt, but its more grounded, real thematic material is now, perhaps more than ever, at the forefront of our collective consciousness, as we strive towards a world where it is ok not to be ok, where we can maintain open and honest discussion about our most adverse internalised trauma. After all there is far more that unites than separates us.

★★★★★

"Dear England" plays at the Lyric Theatre at the Lowry, Salford, until the 29th of June, after which it will set out on a tour of the UK.