As the audience were all encouraged to sing ‘Vindaloo’ by Fat Les at the beginning of the show, in a production titled Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England, I did not expect to leave with tears in my eyes. Exploring themes of football fanaticism, belonging, and mental health, the one-man play, written and performed by Alex Hill, is absolutely fantastic.
The show is a fictionalised backstory based on a real-life image of a man — you guessed it — letting a flare off in his arse at the England vs Italy Euros final in 2021. It follows Billy, a young man who has grown up holding a season ticket to AFC Wimbledon, and goes to the matches every week with his best friend, Adam. Football is central to his life; everything else is merely background noise for the weekly match that his world revolves around.
However, as he gets older, Billy is drawn into a darker side of football by thug ringleader “Winegum”, and the matches become increasingly adrenaline-fuelled displays of hooliganism. This is where his life begins to spiral out of control, in a distressing turn of events that leads him to only one logical conclusion: putting a flare up his bum at the Euros final.
Actor Alex Hill is spectacular: his boisterous, macho embodiment of Billy begins with excellent comic timing and ends with a devastatingly emotional performance, as Billy’s breakdown becomes increasingly apparent. Equally impressive is the way he manages to down two pints at the top of the show.
The writing is sharply funny and incredibly clever. Flipping between moments of pain and the inevitable, weekly “match day!” creates a moving exploration of male loneliness and belonging, and how football and its attached drinking culture act as outlets for fans. When “friendship” consists of taking lines and fighting the opposition instead of talking about feelings, the meaning becomes muddled.
The standing ovation Hill receives at the end of the show is testament to his compelling performance, and looking around at such a diverse crowd and seeing so many people moved is truly special.
Beginning its third (and final) year in a row at the Fringe, Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England is delightful and devastating in equal measures, and is certainly a must-see this August.
Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England is running until 25 August (not 11) at 302 Cowbarn at Underbelly, Bristo Square.
Buy tickets here.
Image courtesy of Rah Petherbridge, provided to The Student as press material.