The National Theatre has announced the full cast for Dear England, a new play by James Graham telling the story of the England men’s football team under Gareth Southgate’s management. Photographs of the company in rehearsals at the National Theatre are also released today.
Joining Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mother) as Gareth Southgate is Gina McKee (My Policeman, Bodyguard) who will play Pippa Grange, sports psychologist and Head of People and Team Development at The Football Association from 2017 until 2019.
The cast also includes Josh Barrow as Jordan Pickford, Gunnar Cauthery as Gary Lineker, Will Close as Harry Kane, Crystal Condie as Alex Scott, Will Fletcher as Jordan Henderson, Sean Gilder as Sam Allardyce, Darragh Hand as Marcus Rashford, John Hodgkinson as Greg Clarke, Adam Hugill as Harry Maguire, Albert Magashi as Jadon Sancho, Kel Matsena as Raheem Sterling, Abdul Sessay as Bukayo Saka, Lewis Shepherd as Dele Alli, Paul Thornley as Mike Webster, Tony Turner as Greg Dyke and Ryan Whittle as Eric Dier. Nick Barclay, Tashinga Bepete, Will Harrison-Wallace and Miranda Heath complete the company. The cast will also be playing additional roles as part of the ensemble.
Following their acclaimed productions Tammy Faye and Ink, writer James Graham (Best of Enemies, Sherwood) reunites with director Rupert Goold (Spring Awakening, Judy) for this gripping examination of both nation and game.
With 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 coach Richard Ryder and associate director Elin Schofield.
The National Theatre will also be partnering with Football Beyond Borders (FBB) on opportunities linked to Dear England for young people. FBB works with young people from areas of socio-economic disadvantage who are passionate about football but disengaged at school, to help them finish school with the skills and grades to make a successful transition into adulthood.
Opportunities around this partnership will include a published Zine, which features letters addressing the themes in the production through the lens of young people living in England today. This Zine will provide a unique entry point to theatre alongside free tickets for FBB young people and workshops centred around Dear England. Full details to be announced.
This partnership is alongside a programme of activity for young people by the NT’s Learning Department, which will include theatre workshops with the production team and community engagement including ticket offers for local football groups.
Dear England will play in the Olivier theatre from 10 June with press night on 20 June and a final performance on 11 August.
Tickets are available from £20 and are on sale now via the National Theatre website. For further information, including details about assisted performances, please visit nationaltheatre.org.uk.
Rehearsal picture:
