Premier Arts & Entertainment Coverage

Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse For England – 2026 Adelaide Fringe

February 25, 2026

Review by Markus Hamence – Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse For England – Performance date: Tuesday 24 February 2026. Holden Street Theatres, Hindmarsh, South Australia

There are Fringe titles that make you grin… and then there are titles that stop you mid-sip and make you think, well, I simply have to see this. Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England is one of those shows – outrageous on the surface, but far more heartfelt, sharp and human than its headline suggests.

Alex Hill (writer and performer of said show) delivers an electrifying solo performance, drawing us into the world of Billy, a football obsessive whose match-day stunt turns him into viral legend and personal punchline in equal measure. Set against the emotional charge of a major tournament final, what begins as laddish bravado unfolds into something deeper: a story about belonging, masculinity, loyalty and the fragile bonds between mates. It is a high-energy, lots of words and a laugh every second kinda gig. Brace.

“(Alex) delivers an electrifying solo performance, drawing us into the world of Billy, a football obsessive whose match-day stunt turns him into viral legend and personal punchline in equal measure…”
Markus Hamence

Hill ricochets between characters, pub banter and terrace chants with astonishing precision. One moment the room is roaring with laughter, the next it falls into an attentive hush as vulnerability slips through the cracks of blokey humour. The comedy lands hard – irreverent, raw and unmistakably British – yet beneath the laughs sits a sobering reflection on emotional repression and the silent pressures men place on one another.

When Hill (in character) takes place in the audience (see below photo) things take a crazy turn and further hilarity ensues. This act, is a show unto it’s own.

The staging is stripped back, placing complete focus on storytelling and physicality. Hill commands the space with restless energy, shifting from terrace hysteria to intimate confession in seconds. It feels less like watching theatre and more like being trusted with someone’s truth. From red face, to spitting, to audience interaction, this is a real show in real life.

What makes the piece resonate so strongly at Adelaide Fringe (in the Holden Street Theatre hub) is its bold honesty. It’s provocative without being sensational, hilarious without losing heart and unexpectedly tender in the places you least expect. Beneath the bravado lies a reminder that tribal loyalty – to sport, identity, or friendship – can both connect us and leave us profoundly alone.

“It’s provocative without being sensational, hilarious without losing heart and unexpectedly tender in the places you least expect…”
Markus Hamence

This is theatre with grit under its fingernails and a beating heart beneath the banter. Cheeky, explosive and disarmingly human, it reminds us that behind every act of bravado lies a story waiting to be heard.

Funny. Fierce. Surprisingly moving. And yes – unforgettable for all the right reasons. You’ll need a Bex and a good lay-down after this performance.