Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#79): Alex Hill, WHY I STUCK A FLARE UP MY ARSE FOR ENGLAND

As anticipation builds for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, we’re catching up with a range of exciting creatives preparing to bring their work to the world’s largest arts festival this August. In this series, we delve into the stories behind the shows, the inspiration driving the artists, and what audiences can expect.  Today, we’re joined by Alex Hill to chat more about his show, Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse For England.

01. Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?

Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England is a bravura one-man performance delving into football fandom, masculinity, tribalism and the desperate need to belong. It’s a riotous, high-octane hour of theatre, inspired by the infamous real-life England fan who went viral for turning himself into a human firework on the morning of the Euro 2020 final.

02. What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?

This is our third year at the Fringe (the hat-trick year, if you will) and our second with Underbelly. The show has had an extraordinary journey: we began in a tiny hotel conference room, grew through word of mouth, picked up glowing reviews and a commercial producer, came back in a bigger venue, played London, won awards, toured internationally… it’s been quite the ride. We knew we had to return one last time to round things off in style. If you’ve seen it before – this year, it’s bigger, bolder, and better than ever.

03. How would you describe your show in three words?

Ballsy. Funny. Heartfelt.

04. What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?

Above all, I want them to be entertained. But I also hope they come away having walked in the shoes of someone usually laughed at or written off - and perhaps gained a better understanding of the forces that drive (mainly) men to such wild extremes in the name of fandom.

05. What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?

Honestly? Be a director. We tend to pop up for the first week, soak in the buzz, see brilliant work, then leave the cast and crew to it! It’s a lovely way to do the Fringe. 

06. Where and when can people see your show?

We’re at Underbelly, Bristo Square - in The Cowbarn - every day at 2.15pm. This is the shows final trip to the Fringe so if you’ve never seen it, don’t miss out.  

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