Football Play 'WHY I STUCK A FLARE UP MY AR*SE FOR ENGLAND' heads to the West End for one night only

Inspired by the England fan who went viral for putting a lit flare in his buttocks before the European Football Championships Final in 2021, the show tells the story of die-hard football fanatic Billy, who eats, sleeps, and breathes the sport alongside his best mate Adam. But what begins as a shared passion quickly spirals into something more dangerous when they fall in with a new crowd. Looking at the darker underbelly of football culture, what follows is a funny, raw, and honest look at tribalism, toxic masculinity, and the desperate search for a place to belong, timely ahead of the Men’s Football World Cup and the fifth anniversary of the European Football Championships.

Why I Suck a Flare Up my Ar*se For England made its debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023, where it sold out. It went on to have two subsequent runs at the festival, as well as tour across the UK and perform at a handful of London venues, including Southwark Playhouse. The production has also played internationally in Australia. It already has plans to travel over to New York as part of Soho Playhouse's Fringe Encore Series.

This is Alex Hill's debut play, and he also performs in the one-man show. Why I Suck a Flare Up my Ar*se For England is directed by Sean Turner (The Play That Goes Wrong).

Audiences hoping to enjoy this slice of theatrical genius will need to be quick, as it plays for one night at the Garrick Theatre on 21 June.