Greg Dinneen Popular Books
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Dear England is a play about England football manager Gareth Southgate, the pressures of elite sport, and the role of the national men's football team in the national psyche. The play explores how Southgate helped to change notions of masculinity on the England team. Written by James Graham, it opened in June 2023 at the National Theatre in London starring Joseph Fiennes and directed by Rupert Goold. The title of the play comes from the open letter Southgate wrote to England fans in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The play won the 2024 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Play. Plot The play follows the England men's football team under Gareth Southgate in the run-up to, and aftermath of, three tournaments: its unexpected run to the semifinals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, its disappointing defeat in the 2020 European Championship final at Wembley Stadium, and its quarterfinal exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The first act opens with a flashback to young Southgate as he misses a penalty at the 1996 Euro semifinals, causing England to be knocked out of the competition. In the next scene, Southgate is announced as the new caretaker manager for the England national men's football team, as members of the public – including builders, barristers, and YouTubers – react. As manager, he proceeds to select his squad, including Harry Kane, Harry Maguire, and Marcus Rashford. Southgate brings in psychologist Pippa Grange to assist with training sessions, encouraging players to face their fears by keeping journals and talking about them. The second act focuses on emotional drama as the players develop under Southgate's leadership and take nerve-wracking penalties. The play also touches on racist abuse experienced by black players on the England team following their loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final in 2021. It ends with Harry Kane missing a penalty and England getting knocked out of the 2022 World Cup, but with Kane receiving the support from his teammates that Southgate himself had not received as a player. The play's many comical caricatures include former England managers Sven-Göran Eriksson, Graham Taylor, and Fabio Capello; former players and commentators Gary Lineker and Matt Le Tissier; and British prime ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss. Music The play uses popular music associated with the England teams in the 90s era and Southgate era including: "Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve "Three Lions" by Baddiel, Skinner and the Lighting Seeds "World in Motion" by New Order "Vindaloo" by Fat Les "Crown" by Stormzy Production history World premiere: National Theatre (2023) Dear England made its world premiere at the National Theatre (Olivier Theatre) in London, where it ran from 20 June to 11 August 2023, starring Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate and directed by Rupert Goold. West End (2023–2024) In August 2023, the National Theatre announced that Dear England would transfer to the Prince Edward Theatre in London's West End for a limited 14-week run, with Fiennes reprising his role as Gareth Southgate. The play ran from 9 October 2023 until 13 January 2024. TV Adaptation In February 2024, the BBC announced that they had commissioned Graham to adapt the play into a four-part television drama series. The series will be directed by Goold, and Fiennes will reprise his role as Gareth Southgate. Principal roles and cast Critical reception The premiere of Dear England received positive reviews overall, with the BBC News saying that the show had "hit the back of the net" according to theatre critics, and The Observer noting that "there were a couple of five-star raves and lots of football-ese puns". While Time Out acknowledged that the premise of "a play about the squad’s resurrection under Gareth Southgate feels like a potentially hubristic idea – dangerously overhyping a gifted man who still hasn’t taken home any actual silverware", a headline in The Times declared, "pitch-perfect Gareth Southgate brings the game home". The review in the Financial Times ran with the headline: "James Graham scores a winner with exhilarating football play". Susannah Clapp wrote in The Observer that "Once again the playwright shows his particular gift, for writing a popular play with a resonant social theme". Arifa Akbar of The Guardian called the play "a game of two halves", noting that it focused more on "story rather than drama in the first half, while Houman Barekat wrote in The New York Times that he found the second half "considerably less funny" and that it felt "rushed...in contrast to the more leisurely pacing before the intermission." The set design by Es Devlin, featuring oval rings of light on an expansive stage, was described by Akbar as "incredible...simply yet excellently signifying a stadium", while Nick Curtis of the Evening Standard said that it "powerfully expresses the isolation and exposure of the football pitch." Actor Joseph Fiennes was widely praised for his portrayal of the England manager, with critic Quentin Letts of The Sunday Times referring to Fiennes's "almost AI-grade exactness", and Dominic Cavendish of The Telegraph lauding his "furrowed, remarkably lookalike Southgate". Calling Fiennes's performance "magnificent", Jason Cowley observed in The New Statesman that, "Not only does he closely resemble the bearded, waistcoat-clad England manager, he expertly captures the flatness of his accent, the awkwardness of his Everyman persona, the twitches and rapid blinking, as well as the thoughtfulness and decency." Alluding to the actor's performance in the lead role in Shakespeare in Love, Cavendish wrote that Fiennes "achieves a mesmeric intellectual intensity, hands deep in pockets or delicately gesticulating, that makes Southgate seem almost like Shakespeare's inheritor, weaving dreams for us all." Critics called the ensemble "well-cast", with Tatler noting that their "visual resemblances are sometimes uncanny". Many reviewers were impressed with their "mimicry" of England football stars. While The Week lamented that some of the characterisations were "cartoonish", the Financial Times observed "care and nuance" in several of their portrayals. BritishTheatre.com described actor Will Close as "show-stealing" and "hilarious in every aspect" in his portrayal of England captain Harry Kane. Time Out critic Andrzej Lukowski called out Close's Kane as "extremely funny...as affable as he is inarticulate" and also praised Gunnar Cauthery's turn as Gary Lineker. Meanwhile, Steve Dinneen wrote in City A.M. that "Will Close is also excellent as Harry Kane, his impression of a man apparently devoid of personality initially bordering on the cruel but turning full circle as the player's heart and mettle are shown." Alistair Smith of The Stage argued that the deliberate caricatures, also of politicians and other public figures, do "result in some jarring tonal shifts, as the piece veers from serious introspection to something closer to pantomime .... Discover the Greg Dinneen popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Greg Dinneen books.
Best Seller Greg Dinneen Books of 2024
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How Jesus Healed People And How You Can Too A Scientific Explanation
Greg DinneenJesus healed a lot of people, of physical and psychological illnesses, by using scientifically valid methods. Such as, the faith [placebo] effect; the healing touch; therapeutic ma...
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How Jesus Healed People And How You Can Too A Scientific Explanation
Greg DinneenJesus healed a lot of people, of physical and psychological illnesses, by using scientifically valid methods.Such as, the faith [placebo] effect; the healing touch; therapeutic mas...
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How To Win An Argument With A Vegan By An Ex-Vegan
Greg DinneenI have been a Vegetarian since 1971.I still am a Vegetarian.I was a Vegan for 18 of those years.And, as an ExVegan I have learned how to defend myself against Vegans.You can win an...
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A Vegan Easter Celebrate The End Of Animal Sacrifice The Way Jesus Meant It To Be
Greg DinneenChristians commemorate the Last Supper, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus at Easter – the time when Jesus abolished animal sacrifice and replaced it with bread and wine.So.If e...
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Diet And Exercise For Women Who Want To Look Good And Feel Good
Greg DinneenBright eyes, clear eyes;shiny hair, luxuriant hair;clear skin;strong shoulders, abdominals;rippling leg muscles;the carriage and confidence of her body.Exuding health and fitness.R...
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Poultry As Pets Hens, Ducks, Bantams, Muscovies, Free-Ranging In Your Garden
Greg DinneenIf you want birds for pets.Then you could get a couple of hens or bantams.And let them loose in your back garden.Rather than lock some poor canary or budgerigar up in some little c...
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A Vegan Or Vegetarian Thanksgiving Complete With Wine The Way Jesus Meant It To Be
Greg DinneenThe simplest way to have a Vegan or Vegetarian Thanksgiving is to replace the turkey with firm tofu or firm white cheese.Add fruits, nuts, herbs and vegetables, that were available...
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Forming Friendships With Horses Teaching Your Horses With Kindness
Greg DinneenTHE ART OF HORSEMANSHIP“When your horse shies at an object and is unwilling to go up to it,he should to be shown that there is nothing fearful in it,least of all to a courageous ho...
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Refuting Anti-Milk Propaganda Why Dairy Products Are The Healthiest Foods For Most People
Greg DinneenPeople who eat the most dairy products, and drink the most milk, have lower cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and 13% lower overall death rates.Women also have 15% lower bre...
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A Merry Raw-Vegan Christmas Complete With Wine The Way Jesus Meant It To Be
Greg DinneenHow to have and simply prepare a RawVegan Christmas Dinner, including raw bread, using fruit, nuts, grains, herbs and vegetables, that were available in the Middle East at the time...
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A Merry Raw-Vegan Christmas Complete With Wine The Way Jesus Meant It To Be
Greg DinneenHow to have and simply prepare a RawVegan Christmas Dinner, including raw bread, using fruit, nuts, grains, herbs and vegetables, that were available in the Middle East at the time...
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Humane, Sustainable, Healthy, Commercial Milk, Eggs, And Wool
Greg DinneenHow to produce healthy Animal Products, such as milk, eggs, and wool, humanely and sustainably.MORE HEALTHYMetaanalyses show that people who drink the most milk have the lowest ove...
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Gambling The High Price Of Hope
Greg DinneenWhat did Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton, Macarthur, . . . and many other World War 2, United States Army Generals have in common?They were all winning poker players.It is no...
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Must Love Dogs How To Form Friendships With Dogs And Teach Your Dogs With Kindness
Greg DinneenI have had four generations of Beagles.My last Beagle was the greatgranddaughter of my first.So I have had experience with dogs from the cradle to the grave.This eBook includes:How...
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Pain Is No Reason To Suffer
Greg DinneenSimple ways to selfmanage, and avoid, the normal pains of life.Including:Muscle Soreness, Cramps and Spasm;Headaches;Stomach Upsets;Backaches;Toothaches and Gum Pain;PMS.And other ...