Portland Place School pupil and Farringdon resident, Albie Marber, has showcased his admirable acting abilities while starring in the newly released biographical drama film, Tolkien.
Albie, who is a current student at the Marylebone-based school, portrayed the character of the ‘young’ Robert Q Gilson. The film shares the story of renowned fantasy writer, JRR Tolkien and his journey early in life.
Albie commenced his professional career at the age of 11, during which he has taken on a plethora of diverse roles from acting as the ‘young’ Tommy Cooper in ITV’s Tommy Cooper, and more recently assuming roles in Amazon Prime series Outlander and ITV Trauma.
His talent has not just been limited to the big screen; Albie is an active member of the drama community at Portland Place School, participating in many extra-curricular activities. Albie enjoyed his first lead role in a school production in year 10, in which he characterised Ralph Clark in Our Country’s Good and has participated in productions such as Macbeth in the Shakespeare Schools Festival and prior to that Oliver.
Albie commented on his experiences: “My character in Tolkien was incredibly fun to play and the filming process was highly enjoyable – there was much camaraderie between the group of other ‘young’ actors both on and off-screen, making the depiction of the role almost natural.
“I’m thankful for the supportive teaching staff at Portland Place, who have always shown an interest in my work outside of school, and are accommodating to my schedule and professional commitments; it feels like a very collaborative approach. There is a strong creative arts faculty at the school with all subjects well connected, which alongside its Central London location and small class sizes, offers a great atmosphere for young artists like myself to thrive in.”
David Bradbury, Headmaster at Portland Place School commented: “We are very proud of Albie for his highly-admirable achievements within both his professional career and school work.
“At Portland Place School, we see drama as a skill for life and provide our pupils with various opportunities to develop and nurture this skill through the curriculum and extra-curricular activities. Our theatre productions are encompassing, and seek to bring the school together, providing a social, fun environment whilst producing a great piece of theatre.”
