E4 Commissions Stage School

E4 has announced details of its new structured reality series Stage School.

The 30x30' series will follow students and teachers at the D&B Academy of Performing Arts in Kent and capture the highs and lows as they try to break into the world of showbusiness.

The show will see pupils of the prestigious academy attend West End auditions and perform showcases to achieve their dreams. There will be backstabbing and romances, while students will also fight over career-making opportunities and try to maintain important relationships with those they are in competition with.

The D&B Academy of Performing Arts was established in 2000 and is run by sisters Donna and Bonnie Sullivan.

Jonathan Stadlen, Executive Producer and Managing Director of production company Knickerbockerglory, said: "Young people don't want to be doctors or lawyers anymore, they want to be superstars – and there's no better place to train for superstardom than D&B. We wanted to capture the drama, hard work and exuberance of the pupils, and getting them to break into song felt a natural next step on from watching their rehearsals and performances. The songs they perform are all hits we know and love. To go from reality into a music video performance and back into reality again is a really exciting experience for viewers, and it's been a joy to make for Series Director Ben Cook and his brilliant production team."

Stage School is an E4 commission. The production company is Knickerbockerglory. Jonathan Stadlen is Executive Producer.

www.channel4.com/e4

(JP)