Critically acclaimed one‑man play Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Are for England* will bring its UK journey to an end this summer with a final performance at the Garrick Theatre on Sunday 21 June at 7pm.
The show’s ‘Flarewell’ tour marks five years since the infamous incident that inspired the play, coinciding with this year’s Men’s Football World Cup.
Ahead of its West End date, the tour visits Rugby, Norwich and Newcastle.
The production has achieved significant success since premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, later returning for sell‑out runs in 2024 and 2025.
It has toured the UK and internationally, playing venues including Southwark Playhouse, Wiltons Music Hall and Underbelly, as well as seasons in Australia.
It has also won multiple awards including the Holden Street Theatres Award, Best Theatre and Physical Theatre at Adelaide Fringe, Best Theatre and Performance at Perth Fringe World and an Offie Award.
With a story inspired by the England fan who went viral for inserting a lit flare into his buttocks before the 2021 European Football Championships Final, the play follows football obsessive Billy and his best friend Adam.
What starts as a shared love of the game becomes something more dangerous when they fall in with a new group, exploring themes of tribalism, toxic masculinity and the search for belonging.
The Stage praised the show as a “High-octane one-man show laced with humour that addresses serious issues around toxic masculinity”.
The creators Alex Hill and director Sean Turner said, “We’re beyond thrilled to announce that our little one-man football show, which previewed at the Old Red Lion pub theatre before playing a 50-seater hotel conference room at the Edinburgh Fringe back in 2023, has made it to the West End. It genuinely feels like a dream come true. We’re so thankful to everyone who has supported, worked on and been part of the show over the last few years. Finishing the show in the West End and then Off-Broadway alongside the World Cup was never part of the plan, and we’re incredibly grateful for this opportunity. We can’t wait to set off one final flare’’.
Following its final UK date, the production will transfer to New York for a two‑week run at Soho Playhouse from 8 to 18 July as part of the Fringe Encore Series.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
