Gwilym Lee to play Gareth Southgate in return of DEAR ENGLAND
Photo credit: David Reiss
The National Theatre has announced that Gwilym Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody, 20th Century Fox; The Great, Hulu) will play former England manager Gareth Southgate in the return of James Graham’s smash-hit production of Dear England, which will play the Olivier theatre from 10 March-24 May 2025 followed by a four-week run at The Lowry in Salford from 29 May-29 June 2025.
Written by playwright James Graham and directed by the Almeida Theatre’s Artistic Director Rupert Goold, Dear England is an epic examination of nation and game, which has been updated following the 2024 UEFA EURO tournament to reflect Gareth Southgate’s final chapter as England manager.
Gwilym Lee said: “I am thrilled to return to the stage after seven years (and to the National Theatre after nearly twice that) to play Gareth Southgate in Rupert Goold’s brilliant production. I can’t say I grew up with football in my bones, like some, but even I was swept up on the wave of excitement and optimism that this group of players under Gareth Southgate created again and again. They struck a chord that resonated beyond the world of football and started a conversation about things like identity, leadership and Englishness that James Graham so passionately encapsulates in this play. I can’t wait to take on the role and continue this conversation.”
The wider creative team for Dear England includes set designer Es Devlin, costume designer Evie Gurney, lighting designer Jon Clark, co-movement directors Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, video designer Ash J Woodward, co-sound designers Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons, additional music by Max Perryment, revival director Elin Schofield, and casting director Bryony Jarvis-Taylor.
Further casting is to be announced.
The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game? The team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.
