Thomas Jolly (artist)
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Thomas Jolly | |
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 Thomas Jolly in 2019 | |
| Born | February 1, 1982 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, artistic director |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Known for | Founder of La Piccola Familia, Artistic director of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games ceremonies |
| Notable work | H6R3 |
Thomas Jolly (born 1 February 1982 in Rouen), is a French actor and artistic director of La Piccola Familia, a theater company that he founded in Rouen in 2006. Jolly directed the national drama center Le Quai d'Angers from January 1, 2020 until November 2022. He resigned after being designated in September as the artistic director of the ceremonies for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.[1][2]
Early life and career
Jolly grew up near Rouen in Normandy, the son of a printer and a nurse.[3][4] From a young age, he exhibited a penchant for the theatrical, often staging shows at home in La Rue-Saint-Pierre, a small village in Seine-Maritime.[5]
Jolly began acting in 1993 in Rouen and joined the children's theater company, Théâtre d'enfants, directed by Nathalie Barrabé. He then attended Jeanne-d'Arc High School in the "Theater" class, working under the guidance of actors from the Théâtre des Deux Rives.[6]
Starting in 1999, alongside pursuing a degree in theater studies at the University of Caen, he created a university theater troupe and performed in several regional festivals. In 2001, he joined the professional training for actor interns at ACTEA (La Cité Théâtre) in Caen, directed by Olivier Lopez.[7] In 2003, he entered the National School of the Théâtre National de Bretagne in Rennes, led by Stanislas Nordey.[8][9] During his studies at the Théâtre National de Bretagne, Jolly had the opportunity to direct a play for the first time. In 2005, under the guidance of Stanislas Nordey, he chose Jean-Luc Lagarce's Photography for his debut production.[5] After completing his studies he formed his own company, La Piccola Familia.[10] In 2022 he created an 24 hour long play based on Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy and Richard III entitled H6R3.[11]
Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
In September 2022, he was appointed Artistic Director of the opening ceremony and Closing Ceremonies of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in collaboration with Thierry Reboul. According to Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, Thomas Jolly was "a bold choice, consistent with our vision".[12] The logistical choice is marked by an innovative concept in that the show is taking place outside a stadium but on 6 km of the Seine river. Thomas Jolly presented an artistic staging, structured around series of 12 tableaux, designed to be inclusive and representative of France, declaring "Above all, I want this ceremony to include everyone. We must all celebrate this diversity".[13]
Theatre
Director
- 2006: Harlequin, refined by love|Arlequin poli par l'amour by Marivaux
- 2008: Toâ by Sacha Guitry
- 2010: A Night at the Ravalets
- 2010: Pool (No Water) by Mark Ravenhill
- 2011: Harlequin, refined by love by Marivaux (recreation)
- 2012: Henri VI by William Shakespeare (first cycle)
- 2012: We Are Still So Young in Crime
- 2013: Box Office by Damien Gabriac
- 2014: Henry VI by William Shakespeare (second cycle)[14]
- 2015: Richard III by William Shakespeare[15]
- 2016: Le Radeau de la Méduse by Georg Kaiser
- 2016: The Sky, the Night and the Glorious Stone, Chronicles of the Avignon Festival from 1947 to... 2086, Jardin Ceccano, Avignon[16]
- 2016: Eliogabalo by Francesco Cavalli at the Opéra Garnier
- 2017: Fantasio by Jacques Offenbach at the Opéra Comique[17]
- 2018: A Garden of Silence, a musical show by L. (Raphaële Lannadère) in Vannes
- 2018: Thyeste by Seneca, Cour d'honneur du Palais des papes, Festival d'Avignon[18]
- 2019: Macbeth Underworld, music by Pascal Dusapin, La Monnaie, Brussels
- 2020: The Night of Madame Lucienne by Copi, Le Quai CDN of Angers[19]
- 2022: The Dragon by Evgueni Schwartz, Le Quai CDN of Angers
- 2022: Starmania by Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon
- 2023: Romeo and Juliet by Charles Gounod, Opéra Bastille, Paris
- 2024: Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympics
Actor
- 2005: Splendid's by Jean Genet, directed by Cédric Gourmelon
- 2006: Peanuts and Genoa 01 by Fausto Paravidino, directed by Stanislas Nordey
- 2007: Arlequin poli par l'amour by Marivaux: Harlequin
- 2008: Toâ by Sacha Guitry
- 2010: Piscine (pas d'eau) by Mark Ravenhill
- 2011: The Race of Mars / The Feast of Death
- 2012: Henri VI by William Shakespeare (first cycle)
- 2013: The Contagion of Darkness / The Viper's Tooth
- 2013: The Purple of the Blood / The Winter of Discontent
- 2014: Henry VI by William Shakespeare (second cycle)
- 2015: Richard III by William Shakespeare: Richard III
- 2016: All the Children Want to Do Like the Grown-Ups by Laurent Cazanave
- 2016: The Sky, the Night and the Glorious Stone
- 2018: Thyeste by Seneca, Cour d'honneur du Palais des papes, Festival d'Avignon[20]: Atreus
- 2018: A Garden of Silence, a musical show by L. (Raphaële Lannadère)
- 2019: Le Chandelier (The Candlestick) by Alfred de Musset, directed by Bruno Bayeux: Fortunio
- 2021: Mithridate by Jean Racine, directed by Éric Vigner: Xiphares[21]
References
- ^ Leibovitz, Gaby Wood,Annie (May 30, 2024). "Thomas Jolly is Masterminding the Most Complex (and Wettest) Olympics Opening Ceremony of All Time". Vogue.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Tears and fears for the man planning Paris Olympics show". France 24. January 26, 2024.
- ^ Thomas Jolly, the master of ceremonies - France Jeux, 22 September 2022
- ^ Thomas Jolly, the Peter Pan of theater turned head of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony - Le Monde, 27 July 2024
- ^ a b "Thomas Jolly, metteur en scène : « Quand ma grand-mère est entrée pour la première fois sur le plateau, j'ai pleuré à torrents »". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2022-01-15. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ "Thomas Jolly. Lumineuse apparition", Libération, December 3, 2014.
- ^ "ACTEA de La Cité Théâtre"
- ^ "Thomas Jolly", Théâtre contemporain.net, March 17, 2014.
- ^ "Thomas Jolly", Théâtre National de Strasbourg, accessed May 28, 2019.
- ^ Thomas Jolly Director Biography - Opera National de Paris, retrieved 27 July 2024
- ^ Thomas Jolly Is Masterminding The Most Complex Olympics Opening Ceremony Of All Time - Vogue, 4 June 2024
- ^ "La cérémonie d'ouverture des JO encensée par (presque toute) la presse internationale". Le HuffPost (in French). 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ "Opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics: the (expected) moment of glory for Thomas Jolly, artistic director of the event".
- ^ "Henry VI", carnages au bout de la nuit / Libération, July 22, 2014
- ^ Richard III, une pièce très Jolly / Le Figaro, January 6, 2016
- ^ [1]
- ^ Thomas Jolly: "Je n’ai rien trouvé de mieux que l’artisanal" / Le Temps, November 2, 2017
- ^ "Thyeste, Avignon 2018"
- ^ "Thomas Jolly pousse les feux de "La Nuit"", Les Échos, July 20, 2020
- ^ "At the Avignon Festival, Thomas Jolly Takes the Court", L'Express, July 4, 2018
- ^ "Mithridate: Racine in a Funeral Opera", Les Échos, February 21, 2021