Review: Dear England at LOWRY is ‘a powerful dive into English identity through football’

Dear England is a gripping, thought-provoking exploration of the immense pressure on the England football team and how the nation's identity is shaped by triumph, failure, and the relentless pursuit of success.
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It’s coming home, it’s coming home, it’s coming, football’s coming home, as Dear England has arrived at LOWRY.

Sing along, if you know the words to the brilliant England anthem written by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, and The Lightning Seeds back in 1996.

And then think about how many times you have watched an edge-of-the-seat England game, seen them get so near but so far.

And then, discussed what the manager should do next and where he went wrong.

If this opening paragraph has put you off because you don’t like or engage with the beautiful game, don’t worry. I feel the same way as you.

James Graham’s Dear England at LOWRY

Gwilym Lee as Gareth Southgate

But James Graham’s play Dear England focuses on the fascinating story of how a change in mindset and perspective when dealing with failure can have a massive impact when you are setting yourself up for an attempt at success.

It makes for an entertaining, gripping and involving piece of theatre.

Director Rupert Goold’s ability to create the atmosphere of a massive gig one minute, featuring global superstars, and a gripping thriller the next means that you experience the gamut of emotions of an England manager, as you go trough the ringer and you sit forward in your seat when you hear the words: “extra time.”

Gareth Southgate’s new approach to management

Even though you know where this story of Gareth Southgate’s new approach to football management, with an emphasis on coaching, is headed, it remains a gripping game of two halves.

The sports psychologist and culture coach Pippa Grange, is one of the most interesting characters in this play.

Liz White as Pippa Grange

Dear England
Liz White as Pippa

She walks into a room filled with men and encourages them to talk about how they feel, what England means to them, and how they feel when they fail, and in this case, miss a penalty. Liz White imbues Pippa with empathy but also a steely exterior, as often her ideas are knocked back in the early stages.

As she hands out reflection diaries, she expects sighs and exhales for them.

Gwilym Lee wears Gareth Southgate’s iconic waistcoat, but rather than simply mimicking him, he captures the vulnerability of stepping into such a high-profile role, one scrutinised by the media and discussed everywhere, from pubs to bus stops

He also brings unending optimism and a fatherly feel, as a man who dared to change the record.

The first half is exhilarating, as time flies and striking parallels emerge between a prime minister’s balancing act: pleasing the public, managing MPs, and swaying opposition within both teams.

James Graham’s writing is packed with brilliance

A nutty Jordan Pickford played by Josh Barrow

James Graham’s writing is filled with great one-liners and zeitgeist moments that we all remember, including Theresa May’s exit, following a failed Brexit.

Once Pippa’s time is up, the play does become less interesting in the second half, and there becomes a bigger emphasis on telling, as opposed to showing. And the second half is about twenty minutes too long.

But this story still has the power to engage and hold your interest, whether you are a couch football pundit, a paying football fan, or someone with no interest whatsoever.

As it celebrates the power of the human spirit, resilience, and makes you question: what is England?

And with so much division within social media, politics and the news, it is a topic that often ends with shouting. But here, it is balanced and nuanced, as we hear from players who can don the shirt when they are winning.

But then they lose, they experience racial abuse.

The English underdogs

The team reacting to racist abuse

We also see a different perspective from a group of underdogs, who had no expectations from the public, so they quietly got on with the game and won; the Lionesses.

The terrific cast carries this show on their shoulders, and there are moments of quiet contemplation mixed with the euphoria of singing when you’re winning.

A versatile Felixe Forde

Felixe Forde is a real find as a football pundit and broadcaster Alex Scott, and former PM Theresa May; her versatility is quite something.

And Jude Carmichael makes a mighty fine theatre debut as Marcus Rashford and he nails the pride this working-class footballer has in his family and his hometown.

The stage is either filled to the brim with a variety of different characters, including members of the public who convey their disappointment at being let down, or feeling celebratory.

Or it is quietly affecting, as we are invited into the dressing room to explore the players’ thoughts and feelings about carrying the weight of other people’s expectations on their shoulders.

Es Devlin’s clever set design

Dear England
Es Devlin’s awesome stage design

Es Devlin’s clever set design features a revolve, and it gives you the feeling of being on and off the pitch.

Jon Clark’s dazzling lighting design puts the players under the glare of the spotlight, and you realise how they must feel.

Ash J Woodward’s video design is as good as The National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, as it changes constantly and creates a backdrop, live as you sit there.

Dear England is a play which has the ability to engage anyone who has an interest in looking behind the goalpost, beyond social media rants, and see the human beings who play a game which is seen as a matter of life and death by millions of fans.

Football might not have come all the way home. But it is at LOWRY and Rupert Goold’s immersive production of The National Theatre’s Dear England hits the back of the net many times.

Tickets for Dear England at LOWRY

Dear England is at LOWRY until 29th June and can be booked here

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