Dear England

And yet the surprising heart of the show comes from Oscar Gough's turn as Harry Kane. Initially presented as a well-meaning but slightly foggy-minded character, it becomes clear that there is a genuine kindness underneath. As Kane, Gough leads his team, always taking the first step in Southgate's new methods, and the relationship they have is heart-warming. But it's in the second act where Gough truly gets to shine. He portrays a level of confidence that develops over the time the team are together and shows a remarkable moral intelligence but also excels when faced with a situation not too dissimilar to 1996 himself. The rest of the cast are excellent in their respective roles. Samantha Womack and George Rainsford both play opposite approaches to training superbly and have a great dynamic in their scenes. The core team all play their parts with fantastic energy, with the rest of the ensemble playing managers, commentators, fans and more excellently.

A big reason Dear England is so engaging to watch, beyond the cast, is the unique direction and production that brings this show to life. A simple circular stage and eleven doorways create a multitude of scenes. Alongside them is the memorable use of video designed by Ash J Woodward. Throughout the play, the use of video expands the scenes as well as helping to convey the memories being brought up. The back wall becomes stadiums full of fans, archive recordings of famous moments, and giant text that all help to tell the story as sleekly as possible. In addition to the physical design, co-movement directors Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf take on the seemingly impossible task of bringing the energy of a football match to a stage a fraction of the size of a pitch, and yet they pull it off with aplomb. The movement is exciting to watch, and even parts such as bringing chairs on and off stage become a well-coordinated and executed dance.

I am not a fan of football, yet Dear England makes me want to be. To get a glimpse into understanding what it all means, as well as the camaraderie, struggles, and joy that fans and athletes face, makes you want to be a part of it. What makes Dear England so special is the range of appeal it has. I have family who are die-hard football fans but don't particularly like theatre, and I think they would more than enjoy it. In the audience were so many young boys and girls who just wanted to see their heroes on stage, and they came out having had a great time. It is an incredibly impressive feat of theatre that is a must-watch for football fans, theatre fans, and everyone in between.