Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse for England writer Alex Hill on the show’s final performances

Five years ago, England met Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley - a match remembered for many reasons, not least the fan who chose to mark the occasion by inserting a flare between his buttocks. For drama student Alex Hill, watching that moment sparked an unlikely creative impulse: a monologue about what he'd witnessed. That monologue grew into a full show, which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 to great acclaim before touring the UK, returning to the Fringe, and travelling as far as Australia. Now, fittingly dubbed the 'flarewell tour', the show is preparing to take its final bow in London's West End on Sunday 21st June. We caught up with Alex to talk about the journey that got him there

The show began in a 50-seater hotel conference room at Edinburgh Fringe and is now playing the Garrick Theatre. What's the moment that made you think "this might actually go somewhere," and what has that journey felt like from the inside? I honestly don’t think there’s been a specific moment where I thought that as the show has sort of grown quite organically over three years. We were lucky enough to be presented with new opportunities for the show and amazing theatres have been kind enough to programme us. I suppose one moment that felt like we’d achieved something really special was when we won the Holden Street Theatre’s award at Edinburgh Fringe in 2024 which meant we got to take the show half-way across the world to Adelaide. It was awesome for the team to get that award and it was nice to be recognised in that way.

The viral incident that inspired the play is simultaneously absurd and strangely poignant. What was it about that moment that made you think there was a full theatrical story worth telling, rather than just a punchline?

When I saw the image of that incident, I was instantly curious as to why someone would do that. Not because I was judging him but more because it offered me a lot of self-reflection as to why I do stupid things in front of other people and what that gives me, particularly as a young man. And so I just focused on a character and started trying to answer the questions I had in my head through fictionalising his life.

The show is described as funny, raw and honest, but it deals with tribalism and toxic masculinity. How do you keep those two tones in balance night after night, and has that balance shifted as the show has evolved over three Edinburgh runs? It absolutely has shifted, yes! I always think that I’d be shocked if I could see myself doing the show at our initial Edinburgh Fringe back in 2023. I can imagine the show would ironically feel a little more polished and less funny because I was so focused on getting it right. Now, I’m so much more comfortable within the role and I think I can manage the storytelling more effectively, allowing me to balance the themes. I’m also better at listening to the audience now, which informs me on where I should pitch that particular performance.

Being both the writer and sole performer can be a big responsibility. When you're deep in a run, how do you keep finding Billy and Adam fresh, and do you ever want to rewrite something mid-tour? No, I don’t think I’ve ever felt the need to rewrite anything. I almost did when England came close to winning the Euros in 2024 because I thought that win would have changed the feel of the play. But I have definitely improvised and discovered new things within the performance and again, by listening and interacting with the given audience, I find a lot of fun in the show.

The show clearly comes from a place of genuine love for the game as well as a critical eye. Where do you personally sit in relation to Billy — how much of his passion, and how much of his darker impulses, do you recognise in yourself or in football culture you've witnessed? A lot of Billy is based on me and the football-going experiences I’ve had since supporting Brentford over 15 years ago. I’ve seen a million Billy’s on matchdays. I definitely relate to his passion and the way football can make or break a weekend for him. Seriously, football can really deflate me and destroy a weekend if it doesn’t go my team's way! The darker impulses within Billy are a thing that I feel a lot of young guys are struggling with and it was important to include them in his character.

The show closes in the West End and then heads Off-Broadway just as the Men's World Cup is under way. Do you feel like the timing adds a new layer of meaning to the piece, and are you expecting American audiences to connect with football tribalism differently to UK or Australian crowds? I think it’s the perfect time to take it to New York and I’m so proud that we’re part of Soho Playhouse’s Fringe Encore Series. The play has been received well in other countries. I remember feeling a similar level of fear before Australia as to whether they’d understand all the Englishisms but they did! I hope it will have a similar reaction in America. They’re passionate about sport just like we are so I’m sure they will relate to Billy’s explosive enthusiasm for the game.

Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England is at the Garrick Theatre on Sunday 21st June for one night only. For tickets go to thegarricktheatre.co.uk