Dear England
Play by James Graham (2023)
Dear England | |
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Written by | James Graham |
Directed by | Rupert Goold |
Date premiered | 20 June 2023 |
Place premiered | Olivier Theatre , National Theatre London |
Subject | Sport |
Genre | Drama |
Dear England is a play about England football manager Gareth Southgate , the pressures of elite sport , and the role of the national men's football team in the national psyche . [1] [2] [3] Written by James Graham , it opened in 2023 at the National Theatre in London starring Joseph Fiennes and directed by Rupert Goold . [4] [5] The title of the play, which explores how Southgate helped to change notions of masculinity on the England team, comes from the open letter which Southgate wrote to England fans in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic . [2] [6]
Plot
The play follows the England men's team under Southgate in the run-up to, and aftermath of, three tournaments: its unexpected run to the semifinals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia , its disappointing defeat in the 2020 European Championship final at Wembley Stadium , and its quarterfinal exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar . [7]
The first act opens with a flashback to young Gareth Southgate as he misses a penalty at the 1996 Euro semifinals , causing England to be knocked out of the competition. [8] In the next scene, Southgate is announced as the new caretaker manager for the England national men's football team, as members of the public – including builders, barristers, and YouTubers – react. [8] As manager, he proceeds to select his squad, including Harry Kane , Harry Maguire , and Marcus Rashford . [8] Southgate brings in psychologist Pippa Grange to assist with training sessions, encouraging players to face their fears by keeping journals and talking about them. [5]
The second act focuses on emotional drama as the players develop under Southgate's leadership and take nerve-wracking penalties. [5] The play also touches on racist abuse experienced by black players on the England team following their loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final in 2021. [9] It ends with Harry Kane missing a penalty and England getting knocked out of the 2022 World Cup, but with Kane receiving the support from his teammates that Southgate himself had not received as a player. [10]
The play's many comical caricatures include former England managers Sven-Göran Eriksson , Graham Taylor , and Fabio Capello ; former players and commentators Gary Lineker and Matt Le Tissier ; and British prime ministers Theresa May , Boris Johnson , and Liz Truss . [11] [10]
Production history
National Theatre (2023)
The play made its world premiere in the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre, London running from 10 June to 11 August 2023 (with a press night on 20 June) starring Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate and directed by Rupert Goold .
West End (2023)
In August 2023, it was announced that the play would transfer to the Prince Edward Theatre in London 's West End for a limited run. The show is scheduled to begin performances from 9 October 2023 until 13 January 2024 (with a press night planned for 19 October). It was also announced that Fiennes will reprise his role as Gareth Southgate . Further casting is to be announced. [12]
Principal roles and cast
Character | National Theatre [1] [8] [5] |
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2023 | |
Gareth Southgate | Joseph Fiennes |
Pippa Grange | Gina McKee |
Harry Kane | Will Close |
Gary Lineker | Gunnar Cauthery |
Mike Webster | Paul Thornley |
Harry Maguire | Adam Hugill |
Raheem Sterling | Kel Matsena |
Marcus Rashford | Darragh Hand |
Jordan Pickford | Josh Barrow |
Dele Alli | Lewis Shepherd |
Bukayo Saka | Ebenezer Gyau |
Jordan Henderson | Will Fletcher |
Jadon Sancho | Albert Magashi |
Eric Dier | Ryan Whittle |
Greg Clarke | John Hodgkinson |
Greg Dyke | Tony Turner |
Sam Allardyce | Sean Gilder |
Alex Scott | Crystal Candie |
Critical reception
Dear England received positive reviews overall, [9] with the BBC News saying that the show had "hit the back of the net" according to theatre critics, [2] and The Observer noting that "there were a couple of five-star raves and lots of football-ese puns". [13] While Time Out acknowledged that the premise of "a play about the squad’s resurrection under Gareth Southgate feels like a potentially hubristic idea – dangerously overhyping a gifted man who still hasn’t taken home any actual silverware", [14] a review in The Times ran with the headline: "pitch-perfect Gareth Southgate brings the game home ". [15]
The review in the Financial Times ran with the headline: "James Graham scores a winner with exhilarating football play". [1] Susannah Clapp wrote in The Observer that "Once again the playwright shows his particular gift, for writing a popular play with a resonant social theme". [16] The Guardian described the play as "a game of two halves", noting that it focused more on "story rather than drama in the first half". [5]
Actor Joseph Fiennes was widely praised for his portrayal of the England manager, [2] with critic Quentin Letts of The Sunday Times referring to Fiennes's "almost AI-grade exactness", and Dominic Cavendish of The Telegraph lauding his "furrowed, remarkably lookalike Southgate". [17] Calling Fiennes's performance "magnificent", Jason Cowley observed in The New Statesman that, "Not only does he closely resemble the bearded, waistcoat-clad England manager, he expertly captures the flatness of his accent, the awkwardness of his Everyman persona, the twitches and rapid blinking, as well as the thoughtfulness and decency." [18] Alluding to the actor's performance in the lead role of Shakespeare in Love , Cavendish wrote that Fiennes "achieves a mesmeric intellectual intensity, hands deep in pockets or delicately gesticulating, that makes Southgate seem almost like Shakespeare's inheritor, weaving dreams for us all." [17]
Critics called the ensemble "well-cast", [14] with Tatler noting that their "visual resemblances are sometimes uncanny". [8] Many reviewers were impressed with their "mimicry" of England football stars. [19] While The Week lamented that some of the characterisations were "cartoonish", [20] the Financial Times observed "care and nuance" in several of their portrayals. [1] BritishTheatre.com described actor Will Close as "show-stealing" and "hilarious in every aspect" in his portrayal of England captain Harry Kane . [21] Time Out critic Andrzej Lukowski called out Close's Kane as "extremely funny...as affable as he is inarticulate" and also praised Gunnar Cauthery's turn as Gary Lineker . [14] Meanwhile, Steve Dinneen wrote in City A.M. that "Will Close is also excellent as Harry Kane, his impression of a man apparently devoid of personality initially bordering on the cruel but turning full circle as the player's heart and mettle are shown." [19] Alistair Smith of The Stage argued that the deliberate caricatures, also of politicians and other public figures, do "result in some jarring tonal shifts, as the piece veers from serious introspection to something closer to pantomime and back again". [10]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Hemming, Sarah (21 June 2023). "Dear England, National Theatre — James Graham scores a winner with exhilarating football play" . Financial Times . Retrieved 25 June 2023 .
- 1 2 3 4 Glynn, Paul (21 June 2023). "Dear England: Gareth Southgate play hits back of the net, critics say" . BBC News . Retrieved 24 June 2023 .
- ↑ Galton, Bridget (21 June 2023). "Review: Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate in Dear England at National Theatre" . Ham & High . Retrieved 26 June 2023 .
- ↑ " 'Dear England' examines the country through its football manager" . The Economist . 21 June 2023 . Retrieved 24 June 2023 .
- 1 2 3 4 5 Akbar, Arifa (20 June 2023). "Dear England review – touching, funny retelling of Gareth Southgate's quiet revolution" . The Guardian . Retrieved 24 June 2023 .
- ↑ Crompton, Sarah (21 June 2023). "Dear England at the National Theatre review – the beautiful game in a beautiful play" . Whats On Stage . Retrieved 24 June 2023 .
- ↑ Barekat, Houman (21 June 2023). " 'Dear England' Review: When Soccer Success Becomes a Moral Victory" . The New York Times . Retrieved 21 June 2023 .
- 1 2 3 4 5 Sampson, Annabel (22 June 2023). " Dear England at the National Theatre review: uplifting, funny and more entertaining than a World Cup final" . Tatler . Retrieved 25 June 2023 .
-
1
2
Hamilton, Tom (19 July 2023).
"How 'Dear England' recreates World Cup action live on stage"
.
ESPN
. Retrieved
21 July
2023
.
'Dear England' has played to rave reviews in London.
- 1 2 3 Smith, Alistair (21 June 2023). "Dear England review: 'Joseph Fiennes is uncanny as Gareth Southgate' " . The Stage . Retrieved 22 July 2023 .
- ↑ Ximenez, Simon (21 June 2023). " [ Review ] Dear England" . Broadway Baby . Retrieved 26 June 2023 .
- ↑ "Dear England confirms West End transfer with Joseph Fiennes" . 7 August 2023 . Retrieved 7 August 2023 .
-
↑
"The Observer view on Dear England: Cry God for Harry, England and our Gareth"
.
The Observer
. 25 June 2023
. Retrieved
22 July
2023
.
Critics agree that it is actually pretty good...
- 1 2 3 Lukowski, Andrzej (21 June 2023). "Dear England" . Time Out . Retrieved 19 July 2023 .
- ↑ Davis, Clive (21 June 2023). "Dear England review–pitch-perfect Gareth Southgate brings the game home" . The Times . Retrieved 19 July 2023 .
- ↑ Clapp, Susannah (25 June 2023). "The week in theatre: Dear England; The Pillowman; The Third Man – review" . The Observer . Retrieved 25 June 2023 .
- 1 2 Cavendish, Dominic (21 June 2023). "The beautiful game plays out with a broad smile... and not a football in sight: Dear England National's Olivier Theatre" . The Telegraph . Retrieved 19 July 2023 .
- ↑ Cowley, Jason (28 June 2023). "Dear England and the English Question" . The New Statesman . Retrieved 22 July 2023 .
- 1 2 Dinneen, Steve (22 June 2023). "Dear England review: Gareth Southgate play hits the back of the net" . City A.M. Retrieved 19 July 2023 .
- ↑ "Dear England review: James Graham 'hits the back of the net' once again" . The Week . 29 June 2023 . Retrieved 19 July 2023 .
- ↑ Davies, Paul T. (21 June 2023). "Paul T Davies reviews James Graham's play Dear England now playing at the National Theatre" . BritishTheatre.com . Retrieved 19 July 2023 .
External links
Works by
James Graham
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