Performances kick off at New Wimbledon Theatre from Tuesday 24 until Saturday 28 February 2026, before continuing a nationwide tour across 16 venues from 15 September 2025 to 14 March 2026.
Written by multi-award-winning playwright James Graham (Punch, Sherwood), and directed by Rupert Goold, Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre, the production features set design by Es Devlin.
The tour is a co-production between National Theatre Productions and JAS Theatricals (Josh Andrews and Stuart Galbraith).
David Sturzaker is widely recognised for playing Simon Bond in Doctors (BBC One).
His stage credits include:
Journey’s End (West End)
To Kill a Mockingbird (West End)
Charles II (Shakespeare’s Globe/West End)
A Doll’s House (Royal Exchange)
Screen credits include Endeavour (ITV), Da Vinci’s Demons (STARZ) and Father Brown (BBC One).
Sturzaker said:
“I’m thrilled to be taking on the role of GarethSouthgate. It’s a great responsibility and an honour… He’s been an inspiring figurehead for many, rebuilding a team and the country’s self-belief… I’m looking forward to taking Dear England on tour across the country.”
Samantha Womack is best known for playing Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders (BBC One).
Her extensive stage and screen credits include:
The Girl on the Train (West End & UK Tour)
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (West End & UK Tour)
42nd Street (UK Tour)
The Addams Family (UK Tour)
South Pacific (Barbican/UK Tour)
Guys and Dolls (West End)
She has also appeared in Silent Witness, The Marlow Murder Club and the film Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Womack said:
“I am so excited to be returning to the stage… Pippa Grange fundamentally changed the culture and, in turn, the course of sporting history by teaching the squad to embrace their fears… she’s an extremely inspiring role to take on.”
Dear England tells the powerful, funny and deeply moving story of Gareth Southgate’s transformative tenure as England men’s football manager.
Facing decades of penalty heartbreak and national disappointment, Southgate challenges the culture of fear and redefines what it means to represent England.
At its heart, the play explores leadership, vulnerability, belief and identity, showing how football can extend far beyond the pitch to unite and inspire a nation.
Costume Designer: Evie Gurney
Lighting Designer: Jon Clark
Co-Movement Directors: Ellen Kane & Hannes Langolf
Video Designer: Ash J Woodward
Co-Sound Designers: Dan Balfour & Tom Gibbons
Additional Music: Max Perryment
The tour revival team includes Connie Treves (Revival Director), Tom Herron (Revival Movement Director), Bryony Jarvis-Taylor CDG (Casting Director) and Dan Hutton (Resident Director), among others.
Alongside the tour, the National Theatre will deliver a year-long schools engagement programme inspired by Southgate’s 2021 open letter to England fans.
Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the initiative will:
Reach over 10,000 young people across England
Feature assemblies and workshops using spoken word and sound design
Encourage students to reflect on their place in history
Create a 2025–2026 sound archive time capsule
Students will also be invited to attend performances during the tour.
World premiere: 20 June 2023, Olivier Theatre
West End transfer: Prince Edward Theatre (Oct 2023 – Jan 2024)
National Theatre Live cinema release: 24 January 2024 (screened nearly 2,500 times across the UK)
BBC adaptation commissioned for BBC One and BBC iPlayer
2024 Olivier Award winner: Best New Play
Updated 2025 National Theatre run reflecting UEFA EURO 2024 and Southgate’s final chapter
The production received support from Arts Council England’s Incentivising Touring: Repayable Grants for Theatre and Dance scheme, helping bring large-scale productions to regional venues across the country.
New Wimbledon Theatre
24 – 28 February 2026
Full tour runs:
15 September 2025 – 14 March 2026
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