noun: flashbang⦁ a grenade that produces a bright flash and a loud noise so as to stun or disorient people without causing serious injury; a stun grenade.Ryan and his gang were going to be mates forever. Living their lives in the same cycle as everyone else in a little town 20 miles from anywhere important. Living for the next night out. Living for the weekend. Getting into and out of trouble. Work. Pub. Sleep. Repeat.
Ryan and his gang have seen it all, done it all, lived it all. The nights they wished they could remember and the mornings after they’d rather forget. Ryan and his gang were going to be mates forever. But then came the night when everything changed.
Proforça Theatre Company returns with a brand new run of “Flashbang” - an exuberant, explosive and gut-punching rollercoaster ride through the ties that bind five best mates together and what happens to those friends when that world is blown apart.Flashbang is written by James Lewis and Directed by David Brady and brought to you by the critically-acclaimed team that brought you “At Last” [2019]. “Feel” [2018 / 19] and the Offie-Nominated "Lately" [2022]CONTENT ADVISORY: Contains very strong language, loud noises, adult themes, drugs references and references to mental health & bereavement.PRAISE FOR FLASHBANG
★★★★★ - “...a piece of such raw, masculine, emotional piece of theatre...Proforca delivered a fun, real love song dedicated to the modern British male & the concept of bromance..It's an absolute stunner of fringe productions in 2022 for me!” - West End Evenings
★★★★★ - “James Lewis’s luminous is an affable, affectionate ode to lad hood & the working class” - Lost in Theatre-land
★★★★★ - “Proforca has taken the beauty of normality and shone an unlikely spotlight on it. It ispoetry, pain, pleasure & a pure joy to behold" - MyTheatreMates
★★★★ - "...truly engages the audience with good writing, and amazing acting. Proforca Theatre is able to bring a dramatic twist while fully celebrating the charm of small-town life-long friendships...” - Always Time For Theatre
★★★★ - “a play which takes one from belly laugh to sucker punch without missing a beat. It is a moving and powerful exploration of male friendship.” - The Peg Review
★★★★ - “Flashbang has the makings of a modern-day classic, as Lewis’ play balances the comedic bravado of this male “matey” dynamic with real and raw vulnerability.” - Adventures in Theatreland
★★★★ - “..full of the usual Proforca magic; wonderful writing alongside expertly delivered performances...an emotional examination of how young men deal with unexpected grief" Everything Theatre
★★★★ - "Very few theatre companies bring the real alive on stage. Proforca is one of them. They are able to dramatise ordinary life using ordinary people, creating brave, vivid theatre” - London Theatre Reviews
★★★★ - “A searing but beautifully written play about the importance of friendship that feels incredibly realistic thanks to a superb cast” - Theatre Weekly
★★★★ - "An authentic exploration of growing up as a guy in a small town with your best friends. It is truthful, visceral and packed with talent and potential.” - Longstaff Reviews
★★★★ – “Truly engages the audience with good writing, and amazing acting” – Always Time For Theatre
Event Venue
The Old Joint Stock Pub & Theatre, Birmingham (4 Temple Row West, Birmingham, UK), United Kingdom
Tickets