Dear England Casting Unveiled Featuring Kel Matsena

Full casting has been unveiled for the world première of James Graham's Dear England at The National Theatre in London. Previews will begin in the Olivier on June 10 ahead of its June 20 opening night and a limited engagement through August 11.

Joining the cast is our own Kel Matsena, Co-artistic Director of Matsena Productions. Alongside him are Gina McKee (My Policeman, Bodyguard) as Pippa Grange, Josh Barrow as Jordan Pickford, Gunnar Cauthery as Gary Lineker, Will Close as Harry Kane, Crystal Condie as Alex Scott, Will Fletcher as Jordan Henderson, Sean Gilder as Sam Allardyce, Darragh Hand as Marcus Rashford, John Hodgkinson as Greg Clarke, Adam Hugill as Harry Maguire, Albert Magashi as Jadon Sancho, Abdul Sessay as Bukayo Saka, Lewis Shepherd as Dele Alli, Paul Thornley as Mike Webster, Tony Turner as Greg Dyke, and Ryan Whittle as Eric Dier. Nick Barclay, Tashinga Bepete, Will Harrison-Wallace, and Miranda Heath also join this incredible lineup.

Kel will appear alongside Joseph Fiennes (Othello, Shakespeare in Love, The Handmaid's Tale) who stars as Gareth Southgate, team manager of England's men's football team. National Theatre Director Rufus Norris described Dear England in a statement as "a captivating examination into the complex psychology of the much loved 'beautiful game.'"

Rupert Goold (Spring Awakening) will direct the production which will feature set design by Es Devlin, costume design by Evie Gurney, lighting design by Jon Clark, movement direction by Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, sound design by Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons, and video design by Ash J Woodward. Casting is by Bryony Jarvis-Taylor and Richard Ryder will serve as dialect coach.

We can't wait to see Kel on stage and wish him all the best for the rehearsals.

> More on National Theatre's homepage

> More info here from Playbill

Dear England cast at the National Theatre. Photo: Marc Brenner