The Four Wheel Drive Story: WHere are we now?
As we celebrate the first birthday of Four Wheel Drive, it seems fitting to reflect on the story so far and what the future holds for the company. I interviewed co-founders Joly and Anna to check in with their progress.
Co-founders Anna Gallon & Joly Black at SPACE York CIC
In creating Four Wheel Drive, Anna and Joly wanted to build something for and by emerging creatives. A platform to produce and present work which they found exciting. A year ago, they announced their ambition to create 4 projects (or ‘wheels’) which represented core values of the company. These values were education (EDUCATE); opportunities for emerging creatives (CONNECT); bold innovative work celebrating local heritage (IMMERSE); and supporting the community they were building (INSPIRE).
“After completing my masters I felt frustrated. Frustrated with the lack of opportunity to create innovative theatre in York. I knew I wanted to develop my practice in educational and immersive work but struggled to find an outlet for that creativity.” Anna Gallon
The first Introduction of Four Wheel Drive, Instagram video, 24/01/2023
The first project, EDUCATE, aimed to abridge a Shakespeare play to aid secondary school students with their understanding and revision of a GCSE set text. The pair built upon their educational expertise with Anna in her 4th year of teaching experience as a private tutor. They assembled a team of students from the University of York to devise and deliver the workshops to local schools.
“Four Wheel Drive was built around collaboration and a drive to create unique excellence. That remains central to our business and we hold our core values close; community, collaboration and innovation.” Joly Black
Built upon the learnings - or as Joly refers to them ‘bumps in the road’ - they embarked on the next adventure. A series of networking events leading to a 5-day creative festival at Theatre@41 in York. This ambitious project aimed to provide a platform for emerging theatre-makers to present their work with minimal risk. 4 months later, they succeeded in mounting 8 new plays alongside a busy programme of events occupying the 3 different spaces within Theatre@41.
The July festival was shortly followed by a commission to create an educational adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM.) This August production planned to take place in the garden’s of the venue, but British Summer had other plans. A Midsummer Day’s Dream took place within the iconic converted church of the NCEM, adding another non-traditional space to the team’s portfolio.
The company went on to develop their new immersive play, The Trial of Margaret Clitherow. The process, with further challenges and ‘bumps’ took a phased development approach to best serve the interactive, non-linear form. Being based on historical characters and events the process was informed by extensive research, the team of writers headed by Bee Scott embraced this opportunity. They look forward to continuing development through 2024.
Toward the end of 2023, the team focussed on how they could best serve the community they had developed. Through 1:1 and group consultations along with extensive brainstorming sessions they developed a strategy to enhance the companies’ sustainability and community offering. Focussing on ‘off-road theatrical experiences’ they began collaborating with clients seeking innovative and creative theatrically charged moments.
The inaugural project of this sort took 2 Georgian characters to Noble Happening’s New Year’s Eve Ball. Igniting the co-founders creativity and propelling them into a new year, working with new clients.
Joly & Anna with Lord and Lady Fitzroy (Jacob Ward & Sonia Di Lorenzo)
The pair described this ‘change in gears’ as an opportunity to offer more work to their community.
“We work with people who are forging a career for themselves as theatre-makers. They have fantastic skills and are looking for professional opportunities which engage those skills and help them to develop. We’re grateful to those who have invested their time into our company and community, and stand to advocate for them in receiving professional work. Joly Black
As this community grows, they’ve launch a new tool: The York Performers Directory. This offers local performers from York and surrounding areas a way to engage with the company and community, and be matched with appropriate jobs. More information can be found on the For Creatives page, and Anna hopes it will further extend and support their community.
“The directory stands to make work more accessible for performers in and around York. Initially, it offers a way to engage with our company and work. I hope to be able to extend it’s service to other creative organisations which sustain York’s creative sector.” Anna Gallon
Exciting things are on the horizon and the company looks forward to embracing further ‘bumps in the road’ as they pivot to provide clients with excellent ‘off-road’ theatrical experiences.”