Dear England starring Gwilym Lee – Full cast announced for National Theatre run

The National Theatre has announced full casting for the London return of James Graham’s award-winning play Dear England.

As previously announced, Gwilym Lee (SAS Rogue Heroes, Bohemian Rhapsody) will play former England manager Gareth Southgate.

Joining Lee will be Liz White (Life on Mars, Ackley Bridge, The Long Shadow), who will play the role of Pippa Grange – sports psychologist and Head of People and Team Development at The Football Association from 2017 to 2019.

Returning company members include: Josh Barrow as Jordan Pickford, Gunnar Cauthery as Gary Lineker, Tony Turner as Greg Dyke, John Hodgkinson as Greg Clarke and Ryan Whittle, who is this time taking on the role of Harry Kane.

New cast members include: Matt Bardock as Mike Webster, Jude Carmichael as Marcus Rashford, Gamba Cole as Raheem Sterling, Ryan Donaldson as Harry Maguire, Felixe Forde as Alex Scott, Kadell Herida as Jadon Sancho, Joshua Hill as Jordan Henderson, Martin Marquez as Sam Allardyce, Tane Siah as Bukayo Saka and Tristan Waterson as Dele Alli.

Also joining the company are Jass Beki, Courtney George, Will Harrison-Wallace, Jordan Ford Silver, Philip Labey and Ellouise Shakespeare-Hart. The cast will also be playing additional roles as part of the ensemble.

Dear England returns to the Olivier Theatre of the National Theatre from 10 March to 24 May 2025.

There will also be a four-week run at the Lowry theatre in Salford, from 29 May to 29 June 2025.

Dear England is written by playwright James Graham (Punch, Sherwood) and directed by the outgoing artistic director of the Almeida and incoming artistic director of The Old Vic, Rupert Goold (Patriots, Ink).

The Olivier Award-winning Best Play 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.

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, casting director Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, dialect coach Richard Ryder, voice coaches Cathleen McCarron and Tasmin Newlands, associate lighting designer Ben Jacobs, associate sound designer Johnny Edwards and staff director Connie Treves.

Also playing this year, is James Graham’s new drama Punch, which is transferring to London’s Young Vic theatre in March 2025.

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Main photo: Dear England, National Theatre - full cast