James Graham's 'Dear England' to return to National Theatre in 2025

Dear England won Best New Play and Best Supporting Actor for Will Close at the Olivier Awards this year, following a National Theatre premiere and West End run.

James Graham's Olivier Award-winning play Dear England will return to the National Theatre for a 10-week run in March 2025, ahead of a four-week run at the Lowry in Salford.

The play, which tells the story of the England men's football team under manager Gareth Southgate, won Best New Play and Best Supporting Actor for Will Close at the Olivier Awards this year, following its premiere at the National Theatre in June 2023 and a West End run at the Prince Edward Theatre from October 2023 to January 2024.

Graham's play will continue to evolve, including new material about the England team's performance at this summer's UEFA EURO 2024.

National Theatre artistic director Rufus Norris said: "Dear England is a captivating examination of football, leadership and English identity that has already resonated with so many people, and we now have the unique opportunity of restaging it with a script which will reflect the outcome from this summer’s Euros.

"In bringing the narrative right up to 2025, we acknowledge how pertinent and urgent the work is – a living, breathing play that cuts straight to the heart of our nation’s psyche. James and Rupert have created such a special show, and we’re thrilled that even more audiences in London and Greater Manchester will have the chance to experience it."

Playwright James Graham said: "To continue the life of Dear England feels like coming top of the group and moving onto the knockout stages - it's genuinely thrilling, and I'm so grateful to all the audiences who supported the show. Knowing that we welcomed thousands of people who had never see a play before was a huge honour for us all, but also a responsibility. We hope to continue that mission in London and now in Salford too."

Dear England reunites writer Graham (Punch, Sherwood) with director Rupert Goold (Patriots, Tammy Faye). They are joined by set designer Es Devlin, costume designer Evie Gurney, lighting designer Jon Clark, co-movement directors Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, co-sound designers Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons, and video designer Ash J Woodward.

Casting is yet to be announced.

The BBC has recently commissioned a four-part drama of Dear England based on the stage production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Check back for Dear England tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: Dear England cast. (Photo courtesy of production)