Joly Black
producer
Joly Black [Jolly] he/him
Joly is excited by bold and brave new work that is playful with form and strives for exceptional artistic standards. He’s passionate about artist development and supporting emerging creatives, he’s led several artist development programmes.
Joly is an Independent Producer developing a slate of new work. He works freelance as a Producer, General Manager and Associate Producer in both the commercial and subsidised sectors.
Currently, Joly is producing Blaze FM (Pleasance Two, Edinburgh Fringe), HELIOS (UK Tour) and developing a new musical based on the 1984 raids of Gay’s The Word bookshop. Recent projects include Buyer & Cellar (Kings Head Theatre, London & Theatre Royal Plymouth).
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As Producer: Blaze FM (30 Jul - 25 Aug, Pleasance Two, Edinburgh)
HELIOS (2025, UK Tour)
Hansel & Gretel (29 Nov - 14 Dec 2024, London) The Big House, London
A Christmas Carol (Spring 2025, Schools Tour, Yorkshire)
Romeo & Juliet (Jan 2024 - Present, Merchant Adventurers Hall, York)
CONNECT Festival (July 2024, Theatre@41, York)
As Co-Producer: Buyer & Cellar (18 Sept - 19 Oct, Kings Head Theatre, London & 29 Oct - 2 Nov, Theatre Royal Plymouth)
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Currently, Joly is an Associate Artist of Roots Touring and Associate Producer for Wright&Grainger.
He is also Associate Producer on Reception: The Wedding Present Musical.
As Assistant Producer, Joly has worked with Wright&Grainger on HELIOS (UK Tour, 2024), HALF MAN || HALF BULL (Summerhall, August 2024) and THE GODS THE GODS THE GODS (Underbelly Festival, September 2024).
Previously, he worked with New Frame Productions on There’s No Place Like Home (Lyric, October 2023), a charity concert launching the Charlie Kristensen Foundation.
In 2022, he worked on Twelfth Night and The Jungle Book with Sixteenfeet Productions as Assistant Producer. Both shows were open-air productions in Kew Gardens and formed the Theatre on Kew season (July -August 2022).
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Joly invests in artists, offering support and opportunities to develop and share new work.
Currently, he is producing regular Scratch Nights in York (more info) and providing in-kind producing support to several emerging artists.
He supported one of these artists to book and deliver a UK tour to fringe venues in London, Manchester, Bristol and York.
If you’re an artist, feel free to get in touch via email, LinkedIn or Instagram to arrange a chat (preferably over a good cup of Yorkshire Tea!)
COMING UP…
BLAZE FM - THE BIG HOUSE
Electrifying political gig theatre: Blaze FM is a pirate radio station that keeps on kicking in the midst of court orders, injunctions, shutdowns by DTI, and outright attacks against Black music. This play with music from The Big House will take you back to the mid-2000s featuring Jungle, Grime and Drill.
PLEASANCE TWO, PLEASANCE COURTYARD
31 Jul - 25 Aug @16.45
HELIOS - Wright&Grainger
From ‘Masters of Storytelling’ (FOURTHWALL) Wright&Grainger, HELIOS is the multi-award-winning follow-up to the internationally-acclaimed ORPHEUS, EURYDICE, and THE GODS THE GODS THE GODS. Join them in a little room with a tape player - and a delicate tale to tell.
A story about the son of the god of the sun, HELIOS transplants the Ancient Greek tale into a modern-day myth wound round the winding roads of rural England - and into the everyday living of a towering city. It’s a story about life, the invisible monuments we build to it, and the little things that leave big marks.
More info: WrightandGrainger.com
JOLY’s Portfolio
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Joly is passionate about developing new work. From facilitating R&D’s and scratch nights to producing a 5-day new work festival, he loves to support the creation of brave new writing and artists striving to make exceptional work.
He’s currently developing a range of shows including Musicals, Plays, Family and Cabaret.
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Joly invests in artists, offering support and opportunities to develop and share new work.
Currently, he is producing regular Scratch Nights in York (more info) and providing in-kind producing support to several emerging artists.
Previously, he led the Friargate Creative Hub project, a two-week programme of workshops, events and performance opportunities designed for local emerging artists in York.
Joly was lead producer for CONNECT Festival, a 5-day theatre and art festival at Theatre@41 York (2023). Alongside facilitating several work-in-progress sharing, workshops and readings.
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Joly is developing a slate of productions as an Independent Commercial Producer.
Recently, he was a Co-Producer on Buyer & Cellar starring Rob Madge (Kings Head, London & Theatre Royal Plymouth).
He has also raised investment for Murder She Didn’t Write (West End and UK Tour).
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Joly works as a consultant for events companies and in hospitality settings. He is skilled in events management, customer service, bar and front of house management across events, hospitality and theatre settings.
He worked within the Hospitality industry for 6 years, undertaking management roles in various settings.
Currently, ongoing services for Noble Happenings (York) and Ghost Light Global (New York).
Previously, Event Management for a New Year’s Eve Ball, welcoming 200 guests, with a three-course dinner, two live bands and multiple event bars.
Private Client Concierge for Ghost Light Global, an international Arts and Entertainment Travel brand, supporting their annual Edinburgh Fringe trips.
ABOUT FOUR WHEEL DRIVE
Built around collaboration and a drive to create unique excellence.
Co-founded by Joly Black and Anna Gallon, frustrated with the lack of opportunity to create innovative theatre in York. Anna and Joly wanted to build a theatre company that was nimble and adaptive to ever-changing industry needs.
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE continues to provide regular performance opportunities to artists through Scratch Nights as well as current performances of Romeo & Juliet and A Christmas Carol touring schools and heritage venues.
