A play about football sounds as good an idea as staging Macbeth in a penalty box. Yet, Dear England turned out to be good—unlike, one might say, the actual England team. Just kidding—Gareth Southgate and his boys are great both on the pitch and as characters in this show.
But it’s not really a play about football, even though it features its fair share of kicks and goals. At its core, Dear England is a story of redemption and hope—the kind that resonates with anyone, whether you’re a football fanatic or wouldn’t know an offside rule if it tackled you.
If there’s one misstep, it’s the inclusion of political leaders like Boris Johnson and Theresa May, who felt like unnecessary caricatures. They added little to the story and stuck out like a missed shot. Otherwise, it’s a human portrayal of a team—and a nation—seeking its place in the world.
👍👎
Dear England
Prince Edward Theatre, London
Written by James Graham
Directed by Rupert Goold
Cast: Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate, Dervla Kirwan as Pippa Grange, et al.
Elia Kabanov is a science writer covering the past, present and future of technology (@metkere).
Illustration by Elia Kabanov feat. Midjourney
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