The beautiful game; millions of fans gripped to TV screens; a proud country. England stands amongst the world’s best teams. But when/where did it all go wrong? And how can a disastrous run be turned around? Dear England is The National Theatre’s Olivier Award-winning smash hit now playing at the Lowry Theatre until the end of June.
Focussing on the highs and lows of English football through the lens of Gareth Southgate’s transformative leadership, James Graham has written a powerful piece of theatre, that resonates both on and off the pitch. Heart-warming, thought provoking, and surprisingly emotional the script delivers with every line, perfectly balancing the rawness of loss to laugh out loud moments of hilarity.
Taking us from Southgate’s agonising miss of 1996 to his final chapter as England Manager, Rupert Gold’s faultless direction, and the creative team’s imaginative staging, enhance the brilliance of the ensemble cast. Gwilym Lee leads as Southgate, on a journey from despair to triumph; Liz White (psychologist Pippa Grange) is a powerful force in this all-male environment; both performances at the top of their game. Gunnar Cauthery’s comedic Gary Lineker and Ryan Whittle’s hilariously deadpan Harry Kane deserve special mention.
You don’t have to be a football fan; you don’t need to remember the results of tournaments. This is an experience of despair, toxicity, racism, misogyny, hope, resilience and belief. James Graham’s script is not just about football – it’s about how to cope with the ups and downs of life, stripped bare to bring out the best in people.
Part of Lowry’s 25th Anniversary programme, this tour de force of theatrical invention is, akin to Southgate’s famous penalty, one not to be missed.
We also enjoyed a lovely meal with drinks at the Bar/Restaurant pre-performance and saved 10% off with our Canal St Card.
Garry Thomas-Lowde for Canal St Media
Lyric Theatre, Lowry: May 29th – June 29th, 2025