Southgate consolates Bellingham after losing to France in Qatar (©Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Southgate consolates Bellingham after losing to France in Qatar (©Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Theatre play about Southgate?! A bit too much, init...

Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 21.02.23. | 16:39

Actor Joseph Fiennes is to play England men's football manager in a new play about the pressure of penalties at the National Theatre in London

Reaching the showdown of the continental tournament with Harry Maguire and Mason Mount, among others, in the starting lineup might be an unbelievable success. But, quite frankly, does not deserve a theatre play...

Jokes aside, the Three Lions' manager Gareth Southgate is about to be immortalised in a new play set at the National Theatre in London. According to British media, actor Joseph Fiennes is to play Southgate.

"Dear England", by playwright James Graham, is named after an open letter Southgate wrote to England fans in 2021 and is scheduled to open in June.

Writer James Graham said "Dear England" would highlight the "gentle revolution" in the team's culture under Southgate.

It is inspired by Southgate's journey since his infamous penalty miss for England in 1996.

"What makes it Shakespearean, obviously, it goes back to his moment in [Euro] 1996, when he felt all the weight of that history and the pressure and expectations on the moment that he missed that penalty," the writer said.

"Cut to 22 years later - he is the one who breaks the penalty curse for the English football team, allowing them to win a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time."


While the parts of players like Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane are yet to be cast, the producers have called up one big international name, in the form of Hollywood star Fiennes.


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Gareth SouthgateEnglandEuro 2020FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup

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