Former EastEnders star Samantha Womack has landed a role in a production that has been described as “the decade’s biggest theatrical triumph”.

The actor, who played Ronnie Mitchell on the BBC soap, has joined the cast for the national tour of Dear England, James Graham’s acclaimed stage play about Gareth Southgate’s stint as manager of the England national football team.

Womack will take on the role of team psychologist Pippa Grange, with former Doctors star David Sturzaker confirmed to be playing Southgate. According to the logline, the play tells an “inspiring, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting” story of a “revolutionary” tenure.

Womack’s and Sturzaker’s run in the play will commence on 15 September at Theatre Royal Plymouth, embarking on a 16-venue tour before the final performance at Birmingham Hippodrome on 14 March 2026.

“I am so excited to be returning to the stage to perform in Dear England,” said Womack. “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.

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“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.”

“It’s hugely exciting to be involved in a production that has already been such a hit,” added Sturzaker. “I’m looking forward to taking Dear England on tour across the country, giving many more people the opportunity to see this fantastic show.”

Dear England originally premiered at National Theatre London in June 2023 before being transferred to the West End two months later. The National Theatre revived the production in London earlier this year, before moving it to Salford across May and June.

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It has proved to be an enormous hit with critics, with The Daily Telegraph dubbing it the “decade’s biggest theatrical triumph”. The London Evening Standard was also full of praise, calling it a “thrilling” and “brilliant fusion of sport and art”.

Furthermore, a television adaptation of the play was greenlit by the BBC last year, with Joseph Fiennes reprising his role as Southgate from the original stage run. He will be joined by Jodie Whittaker and Jason Watkins, who will play Grange and Greg Dyke respectively.