9 reasons to see Dear England at the Empire

Dear England’s getting ready to kick off at the Empire between March 3 and 7 – and audiences are ready for a premier league theatre visit.

It’s netted great reviews since it began its smash-hit national tour and if you’ve not booked your tickets yet, here’s 9 reasons why you’ll be over the moon if you do!

It had a record-breaking West End Run and won the Olivier Award for Best New Play

And the reviews and audience reactions speak as loudly as the awards! Dear England had a sell-out run at the National Theatre before transferring to the West End and winning Best New Play at the Oliver Awards in 2024 for its superb blend of high-stakes sports drama and a thought provoking take on identity, leadership, and mental health. It was praised for highlighting football’s cultural significance within a gripping and emotional story.

It’s the perfect night out for football fans and theatre lovers alike

You don’t have to be a mad footie fan to enjoy Dear England. It’s not a play about goals or tactics, but the very real and human story behind the headlines of national team manager Gareth Southgate, who carried the weight of the nation’s expectations – and tried to heal the ‘years of hurt’ – after taking on the role in 2016.

From multi award-winning writer James Graham and director Rupert Goold, and soon to be a major BBC Drama

Dear England’s background is very much in the First Division, written by James Graham – a young actor when he watched Southgate miss that critical penalty in Euro ’96 – and now award-winning writer whose other credits include the acclaimed TV dramas Sherwood and Quiz, and the stage adaptation of Boys from the Blackstuff, which premiered at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre before transferring to the West End. The show is directed by Rupert Goold, who’s renowned for West End hits like Patriots, which starred The Night Manager’s Tom Hollander, the critically-acclaimed Cold War and the Academy Award-winning film Judy. The pair are also working on the upcoming BBC adaptation of Dear England, airing later this year..

Expect edge of your seat drama, laugh-out-loud humour and powerful storytelling

Like football itself, Dear England will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as it charts the highs and heartbreaks of the national team throughout Southgate’s revolutionary reign and explores how he transformed the team culture. With edge-of-your-seat drama, laugh-out-loud humour and powerful and poignant storytelling, there’s something for everyone.

David Sturzaker plays Gareth Southgate

The former BBC Doctors actor (Dr Simon Bond) captures the heart and positivity of Southgate with reviewers hailing an ‘inspiring and emotionally resonant’ performance. He captures the mannerisms of Southgate without it being an insincere impersonation, so the audience can understand his vulnerability and his strength.

Samantha Womack plays team psychologist Pippa Grange

Southgate brought in a psychologist, Pippa Grange, to improve player mental health and, consequently, team performance and she’s played brilliantly by the former EastEnders actress, complementing Sturzaker and driving home the quiet force that helped the squad confront fear, failure, and the infamous penalty curse! Reviewers have praised her performance as ‘a tour-de-force’, ‘delivering a performance infused with quiet strength and intelligence.’

A top-of-the-league ensemble cast

Expect to see many familiar faces from the past decade – with hilarious cameos from the likes of Gary Lineker, Sam Allardyce and Theresa May, and pitch-perfect portrayals of the England squad – all captured brilliantly by the talented ensemble cast.

Sensational soundtrack, an epic set and superb choreography

Like the roar of a great crowd, the soundtrack works to create a euphoric atmosphere with songs including Vindaloo, Bittersweet Symphony and of course – Sweet Caroline.The truly epic set by Es Devlin, who has designed stages for Beyonce, Adele, the Super Bowl and the Olympics, and superb choreography by Ellen Kane, whose other projects include the movie adaptation of Matilda the Musical!, will transport you to the stadium and immerse you in the nail-biting drama of a penalty shootout. It’s a theatrical spectacle like no other!

From the National Theatre, producers of War Horse

Dear England comes from the producer of world-famous productions like the record-breaking War Horse which returned to Liverpool last year in a major new tour; One Man, Two Guvnors starring James Corden, and Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein starring Benedict Cumberbatch.