James Graham’s Dear England to transfer to West End from October

The National Theatre’s production of James Graham’s new play Dear England will transfer to the West End.

Telling the story of the England men’s football team under Gareth Southgate, the piece will run at the Prince Edward Theatre from 9 October 2023. Tickets go on sale from 11 August at 10AM.

The play is currently making its premiere at the National’s Olivier theatre where it opened in June and plays to 11 August.

Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu; The Mother, Netflix) will reprise his role as Gareth Southgate for the new West End run, with further casting to be announced.

It’s time to change the game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?

With the worst track record for penalties in the world, England manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.

Directed by Rupert Goold, the production has set design by Es Devlin, costume design by Evie Gurney, lighting design by Jon Clark, movement direction by Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, sound design by Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons, video design by Ash J Woodward, casting by Bryony Jarvis Taylor, dialect coaching by Richard Ryder and associate direction by Elin Schofield.

Playwright James Graham said: “To put the National Game on the stage of the National Theatre has been an utter dream and, in particular, to see the subject matter draw in new audiences to watch a play. It fills me with such excitement and joy to be bringing Rupert’s euphoric and entertaining production to the West End, with all its incredible movement and music and – what seems to be, for audiences so far – a deeply moving story inspired by the incredible journey of the men’s England football team.”

For more information, visit nationaltheatre.org.uk