Charlie Jobe on his upcoming performance in Flashbang
In the landscape of contemporary fringe theatre, few companies capture the frantic, rhythmic heartbeat of modern Britain quite like Proforça Theatre Company. Their latest production, Flashbang, returns to the stage not as a roar, but as a “love song” – albeit one played at 120 beats per minute.
Set in a town “20 miles from anywhere,” Flashbang follows four friends navigating the unremarkable highs of nightclub queues and “Generic FC” culture, until a singe moment shatters their status quo. Before the production settles into its run at the Greenwich Theatre (Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 January), we sat down with Charlie Jobe to discuss stepping into Flashbang‘s world and the power of male vulnerability.
What first struck you about your character when you joined this production?
What struck me was how intentionally ordinary he is. There’s nothing flashy about him, and that felt really truthful. I grew up in a small town myself, so I recognized that quiet, understated way of being, where a lot goes unsaid. Leaning into those “unremarkable” traits felt essential.
Flashbang has a significant history and a loyal following. Did you feel the weight of the play’s previous success when stepping into the role?
There’s definitely an awareness of the play’s history, but it quickly became energizing rather than intimidating. I felt most confident grounding the role in my own experiences of small-town life, which helped me bring something personal and honest to it.
The play relies on a “group-mind” energy. How did you work with the cast to build that sense of lifelong brotherhood in such a short space of time?
That was something I connected to straight away. I’ve had the same group of friends since nursery, so that shared language and history felt very familiar. We focused on listening to each other and allowing the bond to feel lived-in rather than performed.
Your character wears a “Generic FC” shirt, representing an “everyman” quality. How did you find specificity in a deliberately “ordinary” character?
No one feels generic in their own life. Growing up somewhere small taught me how intense and specific those worlds are. I focused on the character’s inner life – what he avoids, what he holds onto – to find his individuality.
The dialogue is often described as “ping-pong”—fast-paced and hyper-synchronized. What was the biggest challenge of mastering that group dynamic?
Learning to fully trust each other. The script demands real listening and shared rhythm, like conversations with old friends who know each other inside out. Once that clicked, it became incredibly satisfying to play.
You’ve moved from the intimacy of a black-box fringe space to the larger Main House at Greenwich Theatre. How did that change your performance?
It was about expanding the energy without losing intimacy. Rather than pushing, I focused on clarity and truth. The honesty of the relationships does the work, even in a bigger space.
Flashbang deals heavily with male repression. How does it feel to be part of a play that puts those specific emotional struggles center stage?
There’s definitely a shift happening in society, but it still feels vital to put those conversations on stage. Being part of a play that centers emotional honesty rather than repression feels important, especially in a group of male characters who don’t always have the language for what they’re feeling.
Growing up in a small town, I recognize that instinct to bury things, so it’s been powerful to explore what happens when those emotions finally surface, and to invite audiences into that conversation too.
Our thanks to Charlie for his time. You can also find our original 2022 review for the show here.
Flashbang runs at the Greenwich Theatre from Tuesday 27 until Saturday 31 Janaury. You can find tickets and more information below.
