A freestyle star was able to captivate audiences with football skills while attending the Olivier Award-winning ‘Dear England’.
The freestyler, Jay Rosa, was on the carpet of the critically acclaimed play by James Graham, which tells the story of Gareth Southgate’s role as the England manager has already seen success at the Salford theatre.
The show has already begun its month-long run at the Lowry, starting on Thursday 29 May, and will run until Sunday 29 June.
And before the show, Jay Rosa, known for his captivating freestyle football skills, performed a dazzling display of control, creativity, and charisma.
As theatre-goers gathered at The Lowry, Rosa turned the foyer into a mini arena, juggling the ball with mesmerizing technique and catching the attention of passersby and fans alike.
In a light-hearted and interactive moment, he was even seen being interviewed whilst teaching some of his moves to one of the presenters on the carpet, creating a warm and inclusive energy that complemented the evening’s theme.
Rosa’s appearance at the Lowry wasn’t just for the show Dear England, as his involvement at Dear England is part of a larger mission.
The football freestyler has been touring stadiums around the country, and major football-related venues across the UK to raise awareness around mental health.
Jay previously visited the Peninsula Stadium, where featured at half time on Tuesday 3 December where he showcased his amazing skills.
The freestyler was able to perform in front of over 1,800 spectators, when Salford City played Harrogate Town.
By travelling the country, he is aiming to use his football to be a vehicle to engage with communities and fans of all ages to talk openly about emotional resilience, mental well-being and the acceptance of being vulnerable.
And this is closely related with the themes of Dear England being closely aligned to his message, with the journey of England men’s national football team manager Gareth Southgate, charting his efforts to rebuild not only a team but also a mindset.
Throughout the play, it follows themes of moving beyond the stigma and shame of past failures toward a culture of openness, belief, and psychological strength.
Dear England blends theatre with sport in a way that’s rarely seen on stage, and has been used to capture what football means to a nation while asking deeper questions about identity, pressure, and collective healing.
Before the show, Rosa shared his vision for using his platform to support mental health initiatives through sport, saying that football “is more than a game—it’s a language, a bridge, and a way to talk about things we sometimes find too hard to say.”
The football freestyler will continue to use his skills to raise awareness for mental – whilst the show ‘Dear England’ will continue at the Lowry until Sunday 29 June.
Recent Comments