He initially worked as a dancing-master before being appointed by Colley Cibber as leader of the orchestra at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1729.
Charke possessed a good sense of humor and had a talent for wit, which he ultimately made use of in pantomimes, mostly as a composer but also as a writer.
He authored only one pantomime, Harlequin Restored, or, The Country Revels, which contained music by both himself and Thomas Arne and premiered at Drury Lane on 14 December 1732 (although the Burney Collection of newspapers showing contemporary playbills give the date as 20 March 1732).
In addition to his contribution to pantomimes, Charke composed one ballad opera, The Festival, which premiered in 1734 and starred Susannah Maria Cibber.
He also contributed songs to W.R. Chetwood's The Lovers Opera (1729) and The Generous Freemason (1730), and to James Miller's The Humours of Oxford (1730).