The highly anticipated tour of the smash-hit production, Dear England, will visit Mayflower Theatre from Tuesday 13 until Saturday 17 January 2026,
Dear England, tells the uplifting, at times heart-breaking, and ultimately inspiring story of Gareth Southgate’s revolutionary tenure as England manager in this gripping examination of nation and game.
It’s time to change the game.
The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. The England men’s team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and manager, Gareth, 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.
Leading the cast in will be David Sturzaker as England manager Gareth Southgate, with EastEnders and Mount Pleasant actress, Samantha Womack, playing the role of team psychologist Pippa Grange.
“I’m thrilled to be taking on the role of Gareth Southgate,” says David. “It’s a great responsibility and an honour to be playing him. He’s been an inspiring figurehead for many, rebuilding a team, and the country’s self-belief at what is possible, on and off, the football pitch.
“This is one of the aspects of the play that resonates most for me – the ability of football, and sport in general, to extend its reach beyond the game, to unite us and inspire us in our lives beyond the sport itself. It’s also hugely exciting to be involved in a production that has already been such a hit.”
“I am so excited to be returning to the stage to perform in Dear England,” adds Samantha. “It’s a wonderful piece of theatre – entertaining and thought-provoking as well as incredibly staged.
“I am also fascinated by Pippa Grange and her impact on the England men’s team during her term as Head of People and Team Development at the Football Association during Gareth Southgate’s tenure. She fundamentally changed the culture and, in turn, the course of sporting history by teaching the squad to embrace their fears and she’s an extremely inspiring role to take on. I can’t wait to delve in and get back to touring around the country with this fantastic show.”
The cast also includes returning performers Jass Beki as Bukayo Saka, Courtney George as Alex Scott, Miles Henderson as Ensemble, and Tom Lane as Eric Dier. They will be joined by new cast members Jake Ashton-Nelson as Jordan Henderson, Luke Azille as Jadon Sancho, Ian Bartholomew as Greg Dyke, Ashley Byam as Raheem Sterling, Steven Dykes as Sam Allardyce, Oscar Gough as Harry Kane, Jayden Hanley as Marcus Rashford, Connor Hawker as Harry Maguire, Ian Kirkby as Gary Lineker, Jack Maddison as Jordan Pickford, Liam Prince-Donnelly as Dele Alli, and Casualty actor, George Rainsford, as Mike Webster.
Dear England is written by the multi-award-winning stage and screen writer, James Graham (Sherwood, BBC One; Quiz, ITV) and directed by the Almeida Theatre’s Artistic Director Rupert Goold (Patriots, King Charles III), set designer is 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 with additional music by Max Perryment.
Tickets for Dear England (Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 January 2026) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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