REVIEW - DEAR ENGLAND | THE LOWRY | 01/06/2025

Dear England at The Lowry – A Goal-Scoring Drama For Theatre Fans and Football Skeptics Alike

When I heard there was a play about football coming to The Lowry, I’ll admit I raised an eyebrow. I’m not what you’d call a football fanatic – in fact, I’d struggle to name more than a handful of current England players. But with an Olivier Award, a sold-out West End run, and National Theatre credibility behind it, Dear England had my curiosity piqued. Written by James Graham and directed by Rupert Goold, this updated production charts Gareth Southgate’s final years as England manager, freshly reflecting the 2024 UEFA EURO tournament. And let me say – even as a total football outsider, I found myself gripped.

At its heart, Dear England isn’t just about sport – it’s about pressure, identity, and the weight of a nation’s expectations. We follow Gareth Southgate, played with steady gravitas by Gwilym Lee, as he attempts to rebuild not just a team but a culture. Haunted by his own penalty miss in 1996, Southgate seeks the help of psychologist Pippa Grange (Liz White) to tackle the mindset behind England’s long-standing failures. From tense shoot-outs to moments of reflection, the play explores toxic masculinity, racism, and what it means to lead – with humanity at its core. You don’t need to know a thing about football to be moved by these themes.

The set design is sleek and stylish. Es Devlin’s revolving circular stage keeps the action fluid, while massive digital screens help us leap between matches, media frenzies, and behind-the-scenes briefings. The lighting, especially the overhead “halo” rig, creates the feel of a stadium. The staging of the penalty shootouts is astonishing – part slow-motion ballet, part psychological theatre – and it’s here that Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf’s choreography really shines. Football chants and anthems pulse through the sound design, helping even theatre purists like me feel the roar of the crowd.

Gwilym Lee leads the team as a composed and quietly compelling Gareth Southgate, bringing both humour and humility to the role. He nails the manager’s trademark calm and reflective tone without drifting into parody. Liz White’s Pippa Grange is a standout – thoughtful, sharp, and deeply moving in her mission to help the team confront more than just footballing demons. The wider ensemble – including Josh Barrow as Jordan Pickford, Gamba Cole as Raheem Sterling, and Jude Carmichael as Marcus Rashford – manage to embody these household names with warmth and subtle wit. There’s some great comedic timing too, with pop culture and political references landing with universal appeal.

Dear England might be based on football, but it’s ultimately a story about people – and that’s why it works so well. James Graham has found a way to distil years of sporting triumph and heartbreak into a thoughtful, funny, and emotionally rich play that even a football novice can love. It made me appreciate the weight these players carry and the power of leadership rooted in empathy and change.

I might not be rushing out to buy a season ticket anytime soon, but I left the theatre with a spring in my step, a new respect for Gareth Southgate, and a small spark of football fever. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or the person who only tunes in for the World Cup final, Dear England is a theatrical win.

⚽ “You don’t need to love football to love this – Dear England is pure theatrical gold.”

Dear England is at The Lowry until Sunday 29th June 2025. Tickets are available for purchase through the link provided below.

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If you would like more information about the show, please click the button below to visit the show's official website.

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Photo Credit - Marc Brenner

*Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review.