Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Ar** For England
24 February 2025
 If you’ve ever wondered how to have a conversation with a young adult, this show written and performed by Alex Hill – by turns gutsy and charming – connects all ages in laughter.

While you need not know anything about football to enjoy this show, the story starts and ends around a real football incident. A 2020 football fan got photographed holding a flare in his butt cheeks. The image went viral. He became internet-famous. Even now you can look it up and see the real event with all its pink smoke and bare buttocks.

Starting with this absurd premise is the boisterous opener showcasing the actor Alex Hill’s high energy playing Billy. At the start, the butt flare incident is humorously hammed up with a radio interview as an introduction to an essentially immature character.

But by the time we come back around to the same event as the end of the story, the episode becomes Billy’s rock bottom. We see the full humanity of Billy’s character. The stunt itself is just the gimmick that reveals the man.

Because at its heart the “bum flare play” is about brave conversations. Billy starts by reporting conversations as dismissive exchanges with his dad, his friends, his gang, his girlfriend, until, stuck in the cycle of his football obsession, those conversations break down and he is left with only unanswered questions.

One example of the broad appeal is a scene where Billy takes his girlfriend to the theatre by sitting among the real audience. In a surreal moment of humour, the audience watches the show Billy is watching while we watch him watching the show.

I recommend this show particularly for families with children in their teens or early adulthood. While the vulnerability entertained my age group, it seemed that the physical humour fascinated the younger audience members.

Young audience members will engage with Billy’s big energy during the football games. But what got me on the edge of my seat was the beautifully paced stories of intimacy.

Another vital aspect younger audience members will appreciate is the way Hill puts his all into the performance. Where some people might see in this story themes of “toxic masculinity” or “mental health” – I see only the commitment to a fearless portrayal of maturity born from suffering.

When, at the end of the performance, the actor stepped out of character to express his gratitude, the appreciation was mutual.