.png)
REVIEW | Dear England, The Lowry Theatre - Salford
- Harry Brogan
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
AD | Tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review
TW/CW: strong language throughout, strobe lights, bright lights directly focused at the audience, and loud noises.
Theatre and football does collide more then you think, and this play brings what some call 'the beautiful game' and the world of theatre together with brilliance.
Dear England, a National Theatre production follows the journey of the England Men's football team and their journey with manager Gareth Southgate. The award-winning play made its world premiere in 2023, with then a limited West End Transfer, before returning again playing at the National Theatre and now making its regional premiere at The Lowry Theatre in Salford.
Dear England is written by James Graham, directed by Rupert Goold and with Elin Schofield as revival director, plus Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf as co-movement directors. While I do watch football on the odd occasion (mainly Euros and the World Cup) this is probably the closest you will get me to watch anything about football or any sport in that matter. Dear England is a strong piece that at times might even bring some nostalgic feeling to some due to its visual elements.
While yes, Dear England is about the England Men's Football team, it does state in the programme it is a fictionalised take, and is based on extensive research and interviews.
Writer James Graham writes what is a essentially a semi-biopic play with sheer heart, with writing not just for theatre goers but for football fans too. Graham writes what is gritty dialogue that is quick paced and likeable. Graham's dialogue excellently delves into Southgate's (played by Gwilym Lee) ambitious vision for England team throughout the piece, with not just Southgate reinforcing that the whole team and staff are storytellers writing a story, which delivered a heart-warming tone to the show. Graham also provides to me unexpected comedy, with players taking the mick out of each other and also writing characters such as Prime Ministers who the audience laugh at, but also general humour comedy. The piece, somewhat insightful, adds facts from the number of players that have played previously and will leave audience members who aren't into football (like me) a little more educated than before. Graham creates what is a mixture of emotive and tense moments at the same time between Gareth Southgate and psychologist Pippa Grange (played by Liz White) who tries to get Southgate to step away from the past that's holding him back from moving forward in the present. Harry Kane (played by Ryan Whittle) who speaks to Southgate after missing a crucial penalty and asks Southgate why he was chosen to be team captain. Graham also writes themes such as racism, mental health and the fear of failure well, tackling with good care but also with honesty. While I thought at times some scenes seemed to end somewhat abruptly, overall Graham's book is a well thought-out with not being so overly complexed for audience to loose attention. Graham writes nice monologues that adds to the depth of importance of the themes show and characters, to scenes that capture the tension of agonising penalty's but also the joy of the outstanding game wins from tournament to tournament, to also giving what is a deserved recognition to the England Lionesses.
Directed by Rupert Goold, Goold's direction fills and uses the circular turning stage (by Es Devlin) with great effectiveness, with the help from movement directors Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, the pairs precise and notable movement that combines with Goold's direction that skilfully creates a theatrical visual of a football game. Goold's transitions have good slickness to them having 'Players' run on adds extra likeness to the show. Goold's direction feels the intensiveness on the book and also shows team collectiveness. Goold does include the audience a little in a couple of brief moments extending the direction into the stalls which is another nice touch. Rupert Goold's direction creates a good atmospheric feel on and off the pitch.
The cast of 25 come together as a well accomplished group of performers, who some take on successful multi-rolling from time to time.
Gwilym Lee, plays the famous England manager Gareth Southgate. Lee delivers on giving almost perfect mannerisms of Southgate while also giving encouragement to players and staff to prepare for what is the long term plan to win. Lee also shows Southgate's constant memory of the loss of his penalty well. Lee is determined and ready to win with his England squad, while also becoming a supportive manager plus creating nice clear connections between each performer and delivers nice varied emotion dialogue throughout.
The audience of course will have their favourite players, just like football fans do, and they will love to see them be portrayed on stage, and all the performances deliver. With Ryan Whittle who plays Captain Harry Kane, helps uniting the team to come together and delivers a pleasing character. Tane Siah plays Bukayo Saka, Siah's performance of Saka's emotional response to racial abuse is simple, but delivers the message and creates the attention from the audience it needed.
With a cast of 25 performers in Dear England, it is difficult to talk about all of them, but what I want to say is all members of the cast delivered a performance to be proud of. Bringing the story of English football to the stage, and creating a show for both theatre and football fans.
The production is visually appealing, with video designer Ash J Woodward creating a powerful design, showing stadiums and scores. As I said the show could create a nostalgic feel, especially when it uses footage from memorable football moments, which provides an additional link across the show, which for some may bring back memories to audience members.
Dear England is successful at what it wants to achieve, a play about English Football, with a powerful video design that complements Es Devlin's set design that provides the space for Ruperts Goold's and movement directors Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf skillful work, that supports James Graham's book, every side of the show works in creating entertainment. Dear England is a definite high scorer.
★★★★★
Dear England plays at The Lowry Theatre in Salford until Sunday 29th of June. You can also catch Dear England from September in Plymouth, as it heads out of its first-ever National tour.
Comments