Dear England

I have theatre friends and I have non-theatre friends and convincing my non-theatre friends to come with me to see a production can often be challenging. It takes a special subject matter to be able to cross this divide. A play about England's national football team's transition under Gareth Southgate is one of those rare exceptions. Thankfully, it didn't disappoint.

James Graham has made a name for himself as theatre's most consistent narrator of modern UK politics and, while this foray into the country's national sport is a slight detour in terms of subject matter, there are still plenty of elements which make this a 'state of nation' play. From mental health to racism to the protests against Qatar hosting the world cup, it's all here. But this isn't a negative play. It embraces the culture of change and Southgate's influence on it. 

The first act is definitely the stronger of the two and follows Southgate's original challenges in promoting change in the England setup with particular focus on his first  big tournament campaign. The second act suffers slightly from the change in personnel as key characters drop out due to not making future squads. There's also an aura of inevitability given you'd need to have been living under a rock these past few years to not know how this story ends. But that inevitability is also what makes these characters so vulnerable and likeable.

Joseph Fiennes displays every one of Southgate's mannerisms impeccably, from his unexcitable tones to his familiar arm movements and by the end of the play the audience would have found it difficult to separate the character from reality. Whilst Fiennes's performance is flawless, it is Will Close as Harry Kane that steals the show, mimicking the England and Spurs' forward's monotone vocals to perfection and providing the stand-out comical moments.

The National Theatre's main stage can often feel too demanding for some productions but Dear England fills the space creatively, allowing the audience to feel that they are not only in the dressing room with the players but also watching them on the pitch. The display banner running above the stage is particularly effective in offering up a football esq experience with fixtures and score updates appearing as required.

There are not many plays that can have the audience on their feet, singing along like they were at a concert during the encore. I expect on some nights the audience may cheer every goal that England score. It is in this regard that Dear England stands out. It draws on some fresh emotions and takes its audience on a journey that they normally sign themselves up for every two years. It's like the feel good movie of the summer. And that's quite a statement  coming from a Scot.

4/5 - Go and See