Review of Dear England at Milton Keynes Theatre

James Graham’s award-winning play Dear England has been around a while now, and indeed, when it was first staged in 2023, some events depicted here hadn’t even happened. Therefore, the pen, likely keyboard, of Graham has been busy adding what amounts to a further epilogue, and it now amounts to the complete package of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as the poisoned chalice that is England football manager.

For those who may have missed it, Dear England tells the story of Southgate’s journey from his inception into the manager role in 2016 to his eventual departure and knighthood in the New Year’s Honours of 2025. However, this play, while centred on the beautiful game, is more than about kicking a ball and managing and coaching it. Writer Graham mines from the source material a piece that very much explores what it is to be English and, with Southgate’s approach to coaching, what makes the brain tick. To that effect, enter psychologist Pippa Grange, and the journey for Southgate to become arguably the most successful England manager never to win a title begins.

This National Theatre production has all the hallmarks of their very best work, with Graham's stunning, clever, funny script as its backbone, and Rupert Goold’s direction (with touring revival direction from Connie Treves), this is a lovely piece of theatre. Much more than the sum of its football parts, this has everything for every discerning theatre goer.

Leading the cast is a stunningly detailed performance by David Sturzaker as Gareth Southgate. Sturzaker cleverly brings to the stage Southgate's manner and clinical approach, while showing, in brief moments, the lingering penalty past that lurks within him. It is a masterful performance, rarely missing a beat, and with a significant amount of material to deliver, he commands the stage quietly.

Alongside him is Samantha Womack as the Yorkshire-born Antipodean psychologist Pippa Grange. They say it takes the best material to bring out the best in an actor, and having seen Womack several times in shows before, she has never been better than here as Grange. Curiously, because it is such an unshowy performance. Womack brings a calm, measured and brilliantly emotive performance to the role, which works superbly alongside that of Sturzaker’s Southgate.

The rest of the cast, as expected, is top class, many taking on multiple roles without any confusion. With a vast case of 23 performers, it is impossible to mention all, but to pick a few. Steven Dykes consistently brings a comic presence to the stage, predominantly as Physio Phil but also as various side characters.

Oscar Gough is a brilliant Harry Kane, creating a loving, slightly comic tribute to the awkward player. Gough's portrayal also mirrors how all the players are portrayed, taking little distinguishing mannerisms from the real-life players and creating a lovingly heightened version of the same, including a brilliantly exuberant Jack Maddison as the over-the-top Jordan Pickford.

Elsewhere, there is a perfectly gruff and frustrated performance from George Rainsford as assistant coach Mike Webster, a fictional character who portrays a traditionalist constantly tired of Southgate’s touchy-feely approach to management.

Staging, with design by Es Devlin, is simplicity itself, with locations often created from a series of lockers that open into the new environment. This staging works stunningly, allowing the performers to become the rightful centre of attention. Enhancing the environment, though, is some simply captivating work from video designer Ash J Woodward. With video design often now used as a lazy alternative, here, it is used to perfect effect alongside excellent sound work from Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons. Dear England also uses music to both atmospheric and lively effect, often pairing it with excellent movement pieces created by Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf.

Dear England has now become, with additions, quite an extended play, running at two hours and forty-five minutes with its interval. However, with constant energy and a clever, funny script, filled with many cultural references and also digging deep into the human psyche, it is a play that can be enjoyed by all, whatever your interests, and comes fully and unquestionably recommended.

The beautiful game becomes pure theatre magic.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Performance reviewed: Tuesday 20th January, 2026 at the Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes.

Dear England runs at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday, 24th January 2026.

For further details about Milton Keynes, see their website at http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/

For further details of the Dear England tour, see the website at https://dearenglandonstage.com/

Photographs: Marc Brenner