Alex Hill is a complete triumph. Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse For England, written by and starring Alex Hill, directed by Sean Turner needs to be on the West End tomorrow.

The renown “Bumflare Play” did not disappoint at the Southwark Playhouse after a run at The Old Red Lion and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Alex Hill’s intense one act masterpiece tackles the depth of toxic masculinity, football hooliganism, young love, loss and survival all in a comedy packed, emotional rollercoaster of a play. The show is truly an experience.

Once he impressively downs 2 beers at the top of the show and parades onto the stage to a full chanting audience, Billy immediately has you on his side as he embarks on the tale of how he stuck a flare up his arse at the Euro 2020 final against Italy. Along the way, we are flooded with laughs and tears as he find his first love, first drug experience, first fight and first loss of a loved one. The story is consistently funny and allows you to lower your guard, letting the twist at the end hit you all the more viscerally.

The set is phenomenal. Leaps and bounds ahead of where it was at the Old Red Lion, the myriad of England flags and use of pyrotechnics add to the heart of the peace rather than distract from it, as it is the essences of Hill’s pure and brilliant storytelling that sits at the core of this piece and is the true secret to its success.

Alex Hill portrays a Billy that is is funny, charming, charismatic, goofy and most of all loveable. The risky mixture of a writer/actor has appeared to have paid off. I’ve never experienced a character win over the audience so quickly, so effortlessly as I have with this show.

Sean Turner has done a wonderful job elevating this piece. His direction has been appropriate, fitting and ingenious in striving for what seems to be a harmonious pairing between the two creatives. The rest of the team that have worked on the show and its recent production lift deserve immense credit also.

Overall, this play is for both the football fanatic, the person who couldn’t explain the offside rule and all in between. It is a story about being human with a whole lot of heart. I truly hope this isn’t the last we hear about the play and it most definitely isn’t the last we will hear of Alex Hill. He is truly a talent.