Gareth Southgate: Discover why Joseph Fiennes considers the England manager his ultimate 'hero'!

"Gareth is a hero to me, how I think he has changed the game." 

The highest of praise for England's manager, from a superstar of stage and screen.

Joseph Fiennes stars as Gareth Southgate in the play 'Dear England', marking a significant West End production. This historic event marks the Prince Edward Theatre's return to staging dramas since World War II. 'Dear England' tells the tale of the transformation of the England men's football team under Southgate's leadership since 2016, capturing the shift in team culture and reigniting the nation's passion for the national team.

According to Fiennes, Gareth is quite distinctive. He has potentially confronted the practices upheld by other managers, such as fear and machismo, that revolve around achieving victory.

Fiennes' depiction of Southgate is remarkably accurate. He possesses the identical physique, facial hair, and even the iconic waistcoat. However, what truly stands out is his ability to embody the essence of the England manager - his gestures and the way he confidently yet compassionately engages with the players.

Fiennes admits to feeling nervous about portraying a figure as prominent and constantly in the media as the person in question. However, he emphasizes that the play is somewhat whimsical in nature.

Besides capturing the individual's gestures, accents, and clothing choices, which undoubtedly enhances the audience's experience as they enthusiastically point out resemblances to Gareth or Harry Kane, there are deeper themes beneath the surface of the play.

Gareth's defining moment occurred in 1996 when he failed to score a penalty against Germany in the semi-finals of the Euros at Wembley.

What intrigues me is how this event transformed him and shaped him into the person and manager he is today. It highlights the transformative power of our worst experiences, which ultimately lead to personal growth and development.

Over the summer, 'Dear England' drew an audience of over 75,000 at the National Theatre, paving the way for a West End run that began recently and will extend until the new year. Renowned writer James Graham, esteemed in both UK and American theatre and TV, penned the play.

He has penned multiple plays that have graced the stages of the West End and Broadway. Moreover, he is presently in the process of shooting the second installment of the BBC drama 'Sherwood', a project for which he is the author as well.

"We all share a connection with the England football team," Graham purrs.

"We have closely observed the remarkable journey that Gareth and his team members have embarked upon over the past few years. It has truly been a remarkable metamorphosis.

In 2016, we experienced the devastating loss to Iceland and a downfall in the Euros, along with the brief tenure of Sam Allardyce. It was a low point in the sport, leaving us uncertain of how to recover.

However, Gareth has managed to turn things around remarkably fast and in a captivating way. He has shifted his focus towards aspects that previous managers overlooked, such as masculinity, culture, fear, vulnerability, identity, and history. This approach is truly captivating and impressive.

Dervla Kirwan, a familiar face to UK television viewers who received a National Television award for her role in Ballykissangel, portrays Dr. Pippa Grange. Southgate enlisted her expertise as a psychologist to collaborate with the England squad leading up to the 2018 World Cup. Despite her limited media visibility, Dr. Grange played a significant role in transforming the players' mindset behind the scenes.

"Perhaps her invisibility wasn't just to do with misogyny in football, it might also have been personal choice," Kirwan explains.

"Perhaps her intention to shield herself stems from the harsh and aggressive reactions that women often encounter on social media platforms and in the media. In her endeavors, she adopts a discreet approach by privately engaging with the players, acting akin to a horse-whisperer or a football-whisperer.

"Credit must be given to Southgate for including her. He acknowledged the existing disparity and the necessity for a female influence."

England's notorious track record with penalties in important competitions is undeniably the crux of the spectacle. Starting from Southgate's blunder in Euro 1996, through the monumental victory against Colombia in the 2018 World Cup, and now Harry Kane's untypical blunder during Qatar 2022. All of these moments are intensified under the focused gaze of the theater audience.

"Our production also delves into the concept of fear and confronting it head-on, by daring to face the goalkeeper, even when tempted to turn away, and taking ample time to prepare," describes Fiennes.

England's downfall in all the major games, particularly penalties, is where they seemed to have been disappointed. This led to a significant transformation, characterized by a gentle approach and widespread involvement.

Another pivotal aspect of the drama revolves around England fans rediscovering their love for the national team. Spending time with the cast and crew, it becomes evident that even those who are not avid football followers admire Southgate and his courageous players.

"I used to have a very negative perspective of footballers" Kirwan admits. "I did think they were prima donnas, I did see them as overpaid.

This play has provided me with a deeper understanding of them as individuals. It is quite remarkable to realize that they are all just 18 years old, still in the early stages of their lives. It is truly eye-opening to recognize the immense pressure they face, with the entire world watching their every move and the inevitable criticism that comes with the presence of social media. It is an incredibly challenging situation. No amount of wealth can ever compensate for the fact that these youngsters simply yearned to play football while growing up.

Just like the play, Fiennes' narrative also follows a structure of a beginning, a middle, and an end. However, it emphasizes that Southgate's story is still unfolding and that the conclusion is yet to be written. Should Dear England's message of newfound hope be proven true, it suggests that the path from the despair of the Euros in 2016 should ultimately lead to Southgate and his team lifting the Euros trophy in Germany next year.

That would be some theatrical finale.

Dear England is on at the Prince Edward Theatre now until January 13 2024. Book your tickets at DearEnglandOnStage.com.

Sky Arts is a proud partner of the National Theatre, part of Sky's commitment to supporting the UK's creative and cultural economy.