Dear England by James Graham. Chichester Festival Theatre.

Like many people, I became aware James Graham from his success with This House at the National Theatre, a production I didn't see but he was clearly one to watch. This was followed by the engaging film  X+Y, The Angry Brigade at The Bush, Labour of Love, which I read and Best of Enemies at the Young Vic, which was wonderful and Sherwood which was interesting. 

I had been trying to interest my partner in this production, as trailers kept popping up on my phone to no avail, so when the Chichester Festival Theatre dates came up, I said we are not going to miss it this time.  Haven't seen so many school and college students at a theatre since National Theatre of Scotland's Beautiful Burnout at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, which gave an air of 'parents evening' at the time. This being a matinee, it was no surprise schools would want to see this production. 

And in the multi-generational audience, no-one was disappointed; from the full frontal opening (not unlike - Best of Enemies) offering a potted history of what went before Southgate's appointment, the big characters - no need to list them, the failures, the men in grey suits told with many a comic impersonation by a very hard working ensemble. The media interest / pressure built up and up, so when Southgate was given a temporary position and it was a decision the country struggled with. But had this audience engrossed in the re-telling of a story, they thought they all knew. 

Production plaudits start with writer James Graham, who's range of writing broadens with every new production. Es Devlin's minimal, yet striking design an illuminated spherical ring above echoes a football stadium, with hollow wooden changing lockers put to flexible use as entrances and exits, while the penalty spot on the centre of the stage forms a very tense focal point. Every time!!

The music not only reminds you of the actual moments, the matches, the dreams but also whips you up again into a frenzy where the entire audience on a Thursday afternoon matinee,  stand and sing Sweet Caroline at the top of their voices, as if we had actually won the Euro's. 

Mark Lawson for The Guardian decided, ‘Rupert Goold’s staging (with Elin Schofield credited as revival director) is slicker and swifter than ever and movement directors Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf – in sequences re-creating matches, penalty shootouts and changing room dance-offs – extraordinarily put the ball into ballet.’

Then there were the two major ensembles, the actors throwing themselves into training and warmups with the sweat visibly dripping off their bodies. All the character traits were there, the banter and nick names, the doubts, the professional rivalry and yes the racism. Essential to the production, as were the actors who double as all the famous household names in football and one or two others that weren't, so thank you Courtney George, Ian Bartholomew, Steven Dykes and Ian Kirby. 

Credit too, to David Starzaker (ex- BBC's The Doctor's) who carried the audience with him and no one missed Joseph Fiennes. And when Southgate's Crawley background was mentioned, Starzaker's double-take was perfect, as if most of the Chichester Festival Theatre audience were his neighbours. 

We were sat in front a party of young people who were hoping to make their way in the world of work and one of their leaders, said it had been very difficult to find plays / theatre suitable for their age group and interests. Well they certainly hit the 'back of the net' with this one. I even joined in with Sweet Caroline!!!

Here's a flavour of the production...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXr9n-tsgXU

And you may still be able to get tickets...

Mayflower  Theatre, Southampton (13 – 17 January), Milton Keynes Theatre (20 – 24 January), New  Theatre, Oxford (27 – 31 January), Norwich Theatre Royal (3 – 7 February), New Victoria Theatre, Woking (10 – 14 February), The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (17 – 21 February),  New Wimbledon Theatre (24 – 28 February), Liverpool Empire (3 – 7 March) and  Birmingham Hippodrome (10 – 14 March).