Review | Dear England | The Lowry | 01/06/2025

Photo Credit: Marc Brenner

Winner of the 2024 Olivier Award for Best Play, Dear England is making its regional debut at The Lowry following its second residency at the National Theatre. Chronicling the real-life journey of Gareth Southgate’s leadership of the England men’s football team, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this play is exclusively for fans of the beautiful game. However, this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. At its heart, Dear England is about resilience, reframing failure and the human side of things as much as it is about football. As someone with little interest in football, I was completely gripped throughout the entire performance.

The cast are universally strong, portraying the essence of the real-life characters without becoming caricatures of their real-life counterparts. Gwilym Lee is breathtaking, leading the cast superbly as Gareth Southgate. He delivers the role with a gentleness which endears you to him almost immediately, making it impossible not to root for him. Meanwhile, Liz White delivers an equally show steeling performance as  psychologist Pippa Graham. With the perfect blend of empathy, humanity and assertiveness, White truly is the heart of this production.

The bare round stage appears deceptively simple, but it really comes alive as soon as the show begins. With various rotating rings that move in different directions at varying speeds, it injects a sense of drama and excitement through pivotal moments. A giant circular light above the stage reveals itself as a screen, which is used wonderfully alongside a large curved screen that covers the back of the stage. Unlike many productions where screens can detract from the performance, they are used exceptionally well here and elevate the show whilst keeping the audience on track.

Without a football or blade of grass in sight, the tension of the penalty shootouts is palpable. Played out with a near-cinematic intensity, the combination of sound and video design makes these moments as nerve-racking as the real thing. The atmosphere inside The Lowry is electric; it feels less like a theatre and more like a football stadium, with the entire audience collectively holding their breath. Whether you know what it is going to happen or not, it is like watching these nail biting moments for the first time.

Lacking familiarity with the real-life figures or backstory, I was concerned I may not be able to fully connect with the humour. Thankfully, the comedy is refreshingly accessible, even offering a sharp (and often satirical) take on British pop culture moments from the last few years. Whilst it is admittedly a lengthy show, it never for a moment feels long. This is testament to James Graham’s brilliant writing which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

There really is so much to enjoy in Dear England, it screams quality and is one of those rare shows that I could recommend universally without hesitation. Dear England plays at The Lowry until Sunday 29 June 2025.

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Note: My ticket was gifted. Irrespective of whether a show is gifted or bought, I always ensure that my reviews are fair and based on my honest opinion alone.