'Dear England' review — James Graham scores again with his updated Olivier Award-winning play about the national game

Read our review of Dear England, starring Gwilym Lee as Gareth Southgate, now in performances at the National Theatre to 24 May.

Before Gareth Southgate took over as the men’s England manager in 2016, he was best known for missing that penalty in Euro 96. This infamous event is where James Graham’s Dear England begins. Previously berated and blamed, Southgate’s redemptive journey and his positive impact on our national side could never have been imagined.

We follow Southgate as he negotiates the hardest role in football. Crucially, he understands the debilitating fear of failure. He wants to tackle what is going on in players’ heads before their work on the pitch. By bringing in sports psychologist Pippa Grange, the team becomes more open and thoughtful. Southgate is derided by some as ‘woke’ and ‘soft’, but as the wins begin, a nation dares to dream.

After running at the National and Prince Edward theatres last year, reviving the play again is an astute move, as we now know how Southgate’s story ended. Graham has updated and neatened the conclusion, creating a suitably poignant legacy for Southgate. The prospect of including a victory in the 2024 Euros must have been tantalising. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be.

A wonderfully understated Gwilym Lee takes over as Southgate. In a world where male leaders try to out-alpha each other, Southgate provides a welcome contrast. Mild-mannered, unfailingly polite and thoroughly decent, Lee captures Southgate incredibly well with the slightly hesitant vocal intonations and the ever-moving eyebrows.

Ryan Whittle, who previously played Eric Dier, takes on the role of captain Harry Kane. Kind, fair and a quietly brilliant leader, Whittle gives Kane real heart behind the slightly dopey exterior.

This is not a story brimming with women, but Liz White is assertive as psychologist Pippa Grange, who astutely links the national team and the national psyche. There is a brief glimpse of the Lionesses’ success, but their story is another play entirely.

Among the excellent team players, Josh Barrow stands out as electrically charged goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Jude Carmichael makes an impressive stage debut as a reflective Marcus Rashford. Many of the cast multi-role with great deftness: Gunnar Cauthery is particularly good as a pitch-perfect Gary Lineker, complete with crisp bag.

Rupert Goold’s pacy direction works brilliantly with Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf’s inventive movement direction, a highlight being an incredibly nerve-wracking portrayal of the 2018 penalty shootout with Colombia.

Es Devlin’s incredible set uses illuminated ovals to suggest stadium arches, along with a circular stage containing three revolving sections, which maintain the sense of movement throughout.

You do not have to know very much about football to be caught up in the whirlwind of emotion in the production, from the delirious joy of a win, to the hope and expectation weighing on such young shoulders, and the disturbing racism inflicted on Black players.

Ironically it is the sheer amount of football that is the production’s only real flaw. The amount crammed into the three-hour running time might be ambrosia for hardcore fans, but for the rest of us, it is a little overwhelming. That aside, Dear England is undoubtedly thoughtful, detailed, entertaining and absorbing. James Graham has scored yet again.

Dear England is at the National Theatre to 24 May, then at the Lowry in Salford 29 May-29 June. Book Dear England tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Dear England (Photos by Marc Brenner)