Joly Black
producer
Joly Black [Jolly] he/him
Joly is an Independent Producer and General Manager based in London, working on productions across the world. Joly produces new theatrical work, often storytelling, playful with form, and with a bold artistic statement.
He’s currently developing a slate of new commercial work and is excited to collaborate with artists who strive for exceptional artistic standards. He works freelance as a Producer, General Manager and Associate Producer in both commercial and subsidised contexts.
Currently, Joly is working with internationally award-winning Wright&Grainger, with an inaugural tour of SELENE underway across 2026 (Australia, New Zealand & UK) and HELIOS continuing to tour with productions in both the UK and Australia. He is producing Red Fox Theatre’s CATCH OF THE DAY at 59E59 in New York, alongside a new political play Off-West End in London.
Recent projects include Blaze FM (Pleasance Two, Edinburgh Fringe); HELIOS (UK Tour); Buyer & Cellar (Kings Head Theatre, London & Theatre Royal Plymouth); THE WHEEL OF NOUNS (UK Tour).
He’s passionate about artist development and supporting emerging creatives; he’s led several artist development programmes. He’s supported by the Stage One Bursary for New Producers.
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As Producer / General Manager:
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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As Associate Producer:
Wright&Grainger (Current)
RECEPTION - The Wedding Present Musical (22 Aug - 6 Sep 2025, Leeds)
Associate Artist, Roots Touring (2025)
As Assistant Producer:
For Wright&Grainger, 2024; HELIOS (UK Tour, Autumn 2024), HALF MAN || HALF BULL (Summerhall, August 2024) and THE GODS THE GODS THE GODS (Underbelly Festival, September 2024).
There’s No Place Like Home (Lyric, West End, October 2023)
Twelfth Night (Kew Gardens, London, July-Aug 2022)
The Jungle Book (Kew Gardens, London, July-Aug 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!)
UPCOMING WORK:
Wright&Grainger’s SELENE - International TOUR
A STORY ABOUT THE GODDESS AND THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON from the internationally award-winning team behind ORPHEUS comes a new sibling show to the hugely acclaimed HELIOS. Winner of Best Theatre at Adelaide Fringe 2026.
“A very special moment indeed” The List
“Makes the cosmic feel intimate and the intimate feel epic” Theatre Travels
Now Touring Australia & New Zealand | Coming to the UK June 2026 | More info & tickets
Red Fox Theatre’s CATCH OF THE DAY - 59e59, New York
Ireland, 1966.
A skipper sails into Dingle bay with a very unusual catch. What follows is a ridiculous series of events involving Eamon De Valera, Queen Elizabeth, and a surprising amount of nuns.
An unbelievable true story built from interviews, Catch of the Day is a raucous and little-bit-political play with live trad music, all set in a pub. This "side-splittingly funny" (The Irish Post) show has been teaching audiences about Anglo-Irish relations in very silly ways since 2018.
59E59, BRITS OFF-BROADWAY | 10th June - 28th June 2026 | More info & tickets
RECENT WORK:
BLAZE FM - Edinburgh Fringe ‘25
EXPLOSIVE POLITICAL THEATRE from THE BIG HOUSE, acclaimed Grime MC Jammz and award-winning writer of ElectrolyteJames Meteyard.
Blaze FM is explosive new writing weaving Drill, Grime and Jungle tracks through an electrifying hour of powerful, political theatre.
Hackney-based pirate radio station Blaze FM pioneers new music as a voice to the madness outside. But in the midst of court orders, redevelopments, shutdowns by DTI, and outright attacks against Black music, the Blaze family fight for their right to exist.
PLEASANCE TWO, 31 Jul - 25 Aug More info
WRIGHT&GRAINGER’S HELIOS - International tour
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.
UK Tour Spring 2026 | AUS Tour Spring 2026 | UK Tour Autumn 2025 | More dates to be announced…
HALF MAN | HALF BULL
Recent UK TOUR (Capital Theatres, Edinburgh; Lowry, Salford; MAST, Southampton; Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham; Norwich Theatres, Norwich. 31 Oct - 16 Nov).
Previously: UK TOUR (Capital Theatre, Edinburgh; Lowry, Salford; MAST, Southampton; Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham; Norwich Theatres, Norwich, Oct - Nov 2025); Laurie Beechman Theatre, New York, USA (June 2025); Ruhrfestspiele, Recklinghausen, Germany (May 2025); Summerhall, Edinburgh, UK (August 2024); Latitude Festival, UK (July 2024); Streatham Space Project, London, UK (July 2024).
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.
Previous work includes:
Co-Producer on Buyer & Cellar starring Rob Madge (Kings Head, London & Theatre Royal Plymouth);
Associate Producer on Jack and The Beanstalk (King’s Head Theatre, London).
He’s also raised investment for:
Murder She Didn’t Write (West End and UK & International Touring);
UNFORTUNATE: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch (Lowry, Salford and The Other Palace, London).
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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.
Supported by Stage One Bursary