Gerry Blair

I’m a Founder and Director of SRLV’s affiliate company, Above Title Production Finance. Specialising in theatre, our production finance experts collaborate with SRLV’s accounting specialists to provide a comprehensive solution for a varied portfolio of top-flight theatre producers and production companies.

Our work covers plays and musicals in the West End as well as UK and international touring productions, each with its own special set of circumstances. From production accounting including foreign entertainer treatment, to tax efficient structuring, withholding tax, VAT and payroll, we manage the full breadth of financial issues. In essence, we are integral to the day-to-day running of the production, as well as wider strategic decision-making.

Starting my career at EY and then developing my theatre specialism with The Really Useful Group, I had a long spell at the Ambassador Theatre Group and Sonia Friedman Productions. I have a particular interest in the commercial aspects of UK and international productions and have worked across theatre venues, ticketing and production finance. I was also part of the industry team that negotiated the theatre tax relief with HM Treasury and HMRC. Collaborating with SRLV’s team of Creative Tax Relief specialists, we have led multiple successful theatre tax relief submissions.

Extensive worldwide travel for business and pleasure has given me invaluable insight into other cultures; this provides both wider perspectives and alternative potential solutions to challenges when they arise for my clients.

Visit Above Title.