The Stage

McKellen to star in drama school comedy

Published Monday 5 October 2009 at 16:55 by Matthew Hemley

Ian McKellen is working with the producers of My Family on a comedy set in a fictional drama school.

The Academy is being made by DLT Entertainment, which produces My Family, in association with 2act Productions.

Filmed in a documentary style, the comedy is set within The Clapham Academy of Creative Arts, which has started to fall into disarray because of the recession.

In the comedy, camera crews follow Murray McKellen – the fictional brother of McKellen – in an attempt to capture the school at work, which the school’s teachers hope will secure it funding.

Other cast members include Jonathan Hyde, Sylvester McCoy and Frances Barber.

Producer Humphrey Barclay described McKellen’s comedy skills as “delicious”.

“This is the first time he has chosen to do a comedy series, and he has turned down everything else to play his wayward, elegant, hilarious alter ego, his fictional brother Murray, dedicated to the survival of a shoe-string drama school,” he said.

The Academy is created and written by Peter Hinton. A broadcaster has not yet been attached to the project.