Alright, let me start by saying this: Dear England is not just a play about football. I know, on paper, it might sound like something only die-hard fans would enjoy. But honestly? It’s so much more than that. It’s about people. It’s about trying to fix what’s broken — in yourself, in a team, and even in a country that doesn’t always know how to move forward. And that’s exactly what makes this play so special.

I saw it at the Olivier Theatre, and from the moment the lights went down, I was pulled in.

Gareth Southgate: The Heart of the Story

The story starts with Gareth Southgate, and for those who don’t know, he’s the England football manager — the guy in the waistcoat who’s always calm on the sidelines. The play begins with him reliving his missed penalty in 1996. It’s a painful moment that kind of haunts him and keeps popping up in the play. And honestly, I felt for him. We’ve all had moments where we feel like we’ve let people down or messed up, and this play shows how much that one moment shaped the rest of his life.

The actor playing him (Gwilym Lee, who’s brilliant) doesn’t try to copy every little thing Southgate does, but he really captures his quiet energy — like he’s always thinking, always worrying about getting it right. You can feel the pressure he’s under, not just to win games but to change the whole culture of English football. He wants the players to be open, honest, and emotionally strong, not just physically tough. And that’s where the real story kicks in.

Mental Health and Emotions in Football

This part hit home for me. Southgate brings in a psychologist named Pippa Grange, played by Liz White (she’s fantastic too), and her job is to help the players talk about their fears and feelings. Yeah, in football. That’s kind of unheard of, right? Usually, it’s all about being strong, being macho. But this part of the play shows how much more powerful it is to actually deal with your emotions instead of hiding them.

There are moments where you see the players slowly open up, and it’s done in such a real and respectful way. It’s not cheesy. It’s not preachy. It’s just honest. You see them struggle with the pressure of playing for their country, of being in the spotlight, of being expected to never mess up. And when they do mess up — like missing a penalty — it’s not just about the game, it’s about how the world reacts to them afterward. Especially when race gets involved, which the play doesn’t shy away from at all.

The Players: More Than Just Names on Shirts

One thing I really loved was how the play gives the players their own personalities. They’re not just copies of the real-life footballers. They’re funny, flawed, relatable. You’ve got Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling — and each of them brings something different to the team, not just on the pitch but in the way they connect with the world around them.

When it gets to the Euro 2020 final and the three young Black players miss penalties — and then get racially abused online — it’s one of the most powerful moments in the play. It made the audience go completely silent. You could feel the anger and sadness in the room. But the play doesn’t just leave you sitting in that pain — it also shows the team coming together afterward, trying to be stronger, trying to rise above it. That part felt really hopeful, like maybe things can get better if we stick together.

The Stage, the Music, the Movement

Okay, I’m not usually one to talk a lot about stage design or lighting, but I have to say — the way this play looks is really clever. The stage is a big circle, kind of like a football pitch, and there’s a glowing ring above it that reminded me of the Wembley arch. They don’t try to show actual football matches (thankfully), but they use lights and music and movement to make you feel the tension of the games. There’s this one bit where a player is taking a penalty, and it’s just him in a spotlight, alone, while everything else goes quiet. It gave me chills.

The transitions are smooth too — one minute you’re in the locker room, and the next you’re watching Boris Johnson make a speech or seeing headlines projected on the back wall. It moves quickly, but it never feels rushed. And the way they mix real events with the story keeps you grounded in the world outside of football. You’re constantly reminded that this isn’t just about sport — it’s about what it means to be English right now.

Bigger Than Football

Honestly, one of the most powerful things about Dear England is how it holds up a mirror to us. It asks questions like: Why do we put so much pressure on young men to be perfect? Why do we always expect them to win, even when we haven’t given them the tools to cope when they don’t? And what does “being English” even mean anymore?

It’s a story about leadership, sure. But it’s also a story about hope, change, and second chances. Southgate could’ve let his 1996 penalty miss define him. But instead, he used it to build something better. And that’s kind of what the play is saying we should all do — take our failures, take our pain, and turn them into something good.

Final Thoughts

I went into Dear England thinking, “Alright, this’ll be about football,” and came out thinking about so much more. I laughed, I got a bit teary, and I left the theatre feeling like I’d just seen something really important. Not because it was political or preachy, but because it was honest. And sometimes, honesty is the most powerful thing you can put on stage.

So, if you’re on the fence — maybe you’re not a sports fan, or you’re worried it’ll go over your head — don’t be. This play is for everyone. It’s about finding strength in vulnerability, about learning from your mistakes, and about coming together when everything feels broken.

Go see it. Take someone with you. Talk about it afterward. You won’t regret it.