Visiting Playwright Ian Kelly Shares His Experience as a Creative Professional

April 16, 2024 by ljudy

Ian Kelly keeps such a busy schedule as a playwright, stage and screen actor, and screenwriter that his participation in a major movie franchise is not even on the first page of his website. Only the most observant fans might recall his role as Hermione Granger’s father in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, parts 1 and 2.

“Hermione’s dad is the smallest, shortest job I’ve ever done,” said Kelly. “Potter fans do tend to turn up at the stage door when I am in London theatre productions or at literary events about my books with things to sign. But I note they generally haven’t seen the show or bought one of my books! Still, the film was a delight and honor and some of the gang became friends.”

Kelly’s most current role is in the UT Department of English as the first-ever visiting writer for playwriting (English 484) during the second session this spring. He caught the department’s eye with his outstanding writing for the stage, including the award-winning London West End hit Mr. Foote’s Other Leg. He shares his writing experience in the class.

“It’s about playwriting, writing for the stage rather than screen, but it is also more broadly about storytelling—how and why we do it, and to what ends,” he said. “The focus is on the students’ work and creativity, although we do look at play texts and screened excerpts.”

Kelly’s numerous writing projects are at different stages of development and across various types of media.

“At the moment, for instance, there is an Apple Originals TV series of mine filming in Paris based on a book and play I wrote over a decade ago—Carême—but my work with them is essentially done and no one wants the writer on set!” he said. “Concurrently I am developing some TV scripts with Julian Fellowes, with whom I co-write, along with a film based out of Los Angeles, and two theatre projects in London, and a ballet, to confuse things, based in Chile.”

Teaching a play writing class at Rocky Top makes for a nice change of pace for him.

“I said, ‘Yes, please, and thank you,’ to the offer to spend some still time in Knoxville as a writer-in-residence and be around the energy and interest of students,” said Kelly. “I’ve always found the best way to learn is to teach, and already the work I am doing with the students here has inspired me in new directions. I hope it has them too.”

He wants to share insights into that busy working life of a published author and West End playwright, and let students know about the reality of a life in the arts.

“Not because I am trying to recruit anyone into the madness, but more as I think it’s useful always to see the potential of following your dreams and creativity,” said Kelly. “We live in a fraught and febrile world, so the practice of thinking creatively, and empathetically, and giving pause and reflection and then words to thoughts and feelings—this strikes me as deeply worthy, no matter what the outcome.”