Interview: Writer and performer Alex Hill on WHY I STUCK A FLARE UP MY ARSE FOR ENGLAND

Photo credit: Rah Petherbridge

Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse For England is a blisteringly funny new play that has recently enjoyed another sell-out five star run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Ahead of its tour opening, we caught up with writer and performer Alex Hill about creating the show and its future.

Do you want to start off by telling me a bit about your background, in terms of your relationship with theatre as well as being a football supporter?

I was in youth drama groups when I was really little, aged five or six, and I hated it. I was quite shy and am the youngest of four - my oldest brother was 16 and playing the lead roles at that drama society and I was just a mouse or something in the background. There was part of me that loved it. Although I hated going to the rehearsals, I enjoyed doing the shows but in the end, I quit. I always enjoyed watching films and going to the theatre but participating scared me a bit. Then I found football at about 10 and became a Brentford fan.

How did you - or do you - balance being a fan of both football and theatre?

It really does open up quite a few social circles. You can go to school and be a football fan with one group and have another chat with another group of people. There were times where I had to choose whether to play B team football or rehearse for Grease. I think theatre came first and that’s probably why I pursued it but, over the past few years and particularly doing this play, it’s become more blended together.

Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England is inspired by a football fan doing just that in London on the day of the Euro 2020 final. Do you remember your first thoughts when you saw that photo? Did you know then it would become the basis for a play?

I was going to Wembley Way that day to have a party, essentially, so the flare thing didn’t annoy me like it did with other people. It’s funny how people react differently to things because I remember being really p***ed off seeing people climbing up the Wyndham’s Theatre. I think we can’t tell others what they can and can’t be upset about but it works both ways. If you go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, there’s all sorts of crazy things going on in the name of art.

Did you ever speak to the real life Billy or has he come to see the show?

No, I did reach out but never heard anything back. He was 25 when he did it so must be going on 30 now. I never really got the people that were really outraged by it, in part because there was so much worse going on that day. If anything, it was one of the lighter moments. I don’t know why it stuck with me but I do remember thinking it was a great starting place for a story and, if I’m totally honest, I knew it would be a very good decoy to get people into the theatre.

How does that turn into a one-person play? What does the creative process look like once you’ve got the genesis of an idea?

There are so many inspirations and reference points but one of the big things I saw just before lockdown was Death of England: Michael. That was a huge turning point in my theatre-going experiences and I ended up doing it at ArtsEd. When you come out of drama school and have been working with a cohort of 30 people, it’s nice to do something by yourself. I worked with a director, Sean Turner, who is just so great at collaborating and respecting what I’d written and trying to get the best out of it.

Finally, once the current tour comes to an end, what does the future look like for both the play and yourself?

We are really trying to get it made for TV. It’s something I speak aloud because I think it’s the most important route for the show. I think there’s a massive gap right now in British television, skating around the subjects of young men. Realistically, suicide is still the biggest killer of young men under 30, which is mental. Art needs to help, to offer solutions or raise questions. I really hope someone takes a risk on it to make the best show possible - that is the dream and I think it would really help the landscape of what young people are watching on telly at the moment. 

Why I Stuck My Flare Up My Arse for England plays at Wilton’s Music Hall in London until 21 September, before embarking on a UK tour. For tickets and information, see here. We gave the show five stars back in April so don’t miss out, Besties!