WHAT'S IN A GAME? 'DEAR ENGLAND' PROBES THE NATION THROUGH THE LENS OF ITS SOCCER TEAM

That redemptive story inspired Graham to use sports "to make sense of the national moment" for a country that has been plunged into political instability and forced to question its place in the world since the U.K.'s 2016 referendum decision to leave the ...

Outside of families, few relationships are as intense as those between sports teams and their fans. In the case of England’s bond with its national soccer team, it’s not always been healthy.

James Graham’s play “Dear England” looks at the state of the nation through the ups and downs — and there have been many downs — of England’s men’s soccer team. From 1966 World Cup champions to persistent underachievers dogged by a rump of hooligan supporters, the team became a source of national anxiety.

That changed under manager Gareth Southgate, who since 2016 has forged England’s most cohesive squad in many years. Best known for his low-key manner and three-piece suits, Southgate transformed the team’s fortunes and its culture, drawing new fans and instilling a newfound sense of pride.

That redemptive story inspired Graham to use sports “to make sense of the national moment” for a country that has been plunged into political instability and forced to question its place in the world since the U.K.'s 2016 referendum decision to leave the European Union.

“I think that there is a self-defeating tailspin we get into when we get in trouble,” Graham said, referring to both soccer and society. “As demonstrated in our political system right now. We keep doubling down on the failure.

“I think we could possibly afford ourselves a healthier response to losing whereby you then reset and reform and reinvent -- which is what Gareth tried to do,” Graham told The Associated Press during a break in rehearsals.