James Graham has put his pen to work charting a broad range of subjects in recent history – from the rise of Rupert Murdoch's empire in Ink, to the bizarre Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? coughing scandal in Quiz, and recently, the life and times of American televangelist Tammy Faye Baker in the musical Tammy Faye. The only obvious through line between his major plays is that they've all become critically-acclaimed successes on hitting the stage.
It would have been impossible to predict where Graham's attention would wander to next, and in a move probably no-one saw coming, he's landed on charting the recent history of England's favoured sport: football. Through focusing on the story of England men's team manager Gareth Southgate, Graham's play Dear England explores why, when England gave the world the sport, the men's team have struggled to win at their own game.
Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mother) plays the player-turned-manager whose journey off the pitch has been tailed by his reputation for having the worst track record for penalties in the world, while Almeida boss Rupert Goold, who directed both Ink and Tammy Faye, steers it onto stage.
| What | Dear England, National Theatre |
| Where | National Theatre, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Waterloo (underground) |
| When |
13 Jun 23 – 11 Aug 23, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM |
| Price | £20 - £89 |
| Website | Click here for more information and to book |
