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Hollywood stuntman says academy is taking shape

Matt WeigoldDerby
News imageBBC A man in a black jacket, black trousers, white trainers and a white woolly hat stands in a huge foundry. There are hardware trollies, tools, building materials and equipment covered by tarpaulin. To the left, a newly built mezzanine structure. The huge building is well lit and covered by a new roof. There is graffiti on the far wall beneath the mezzanine.BBC
Skyfall performer, Damien Walters, wants films to be shot and students to be coached inside the Derby foundry

A professional stuntman has said it is "incredible" to see the progress of his project to build a multi-million pound stunt academy and film studio in a former Victorian foundry.

Damien Walters, who has performed in Captain America: The First Avenger and Skyfall, is converting the derelict Aida Bliss factory in Derby into a site where movie stunts can be shot and new performers can also be trained.

He said he was confident the academy would have a multi-storey performance studios, large gym space and themed cafe by September.

Walters added the East Midlands city was the ideal location for the facility as Derby was "one of the only places in the world" teaching people how to do stunts.

"We have a Spider-Man stunt double here, a Doctor Strange, a Captain America, a James Bond, a Lara Croft - the amount of stunt professionals that come from Derby is incredible," he said.

News imageSigma Architects An architect's drawing of a large foundry split made up of two large buildings. The left building has three levels and split into different performance areas. The right building is more spacious in its layout.Sigma Architects
Plans for the 80,000 sq ft (7,432 sq m) site in Chester Green are starting to become a reality

Damien Walters Ltd bought the 80,000 sq ft (7,432 sq m) site, which has previously been used as a location for stunt work, from the city council in 2023 for the project which has been estimated to cost £13m.

Walters said the western building of the former foundry had been cleaned, made watertight with a mezzanine structure installed to house multiple performance spaces.

The film director said the larger eastern building was phase two of the project and would be used as a filming studio with interactive theatres to "mould AI and physical performance".

"We want to make next door a very creative hub - the magnet to bring anybody in the creative industries into this area," said Walters.

The Jurassic World stuntman said he was seeking funding to install a 133m (436ft) roof to make the building watertight.

News imageA large foundry with cream walls and pillars. Large equipment is covered by a grey tarpaulin. There is a burnt out office above the factory floor. There are three runs of clear panels to the roof allowing the light through. The walls are cracked and there are scribblings of graffiti.
Walters said he wanted epic movie stunts to be shot in the eastern building

Marv Studios, responsible for the Kingsman franchise, has already used the space to shoot scenes for a future film.

"It took a long time to buy, it took a long time to convince people of what we're trying to do. But once we started, it was a foot to the floor really," he said.

The academy is also planned to be the new home of Derby City Gymnastics Club.

Walters said he wanted members of the club and other youngsters to see what was possible to achieve in their careers by training alongside professional artists.

"I could develop a system where we can take children from the grassroots, go all the way through and steer a lot of the children into a creative industry," he said.

Walters said progress was now being made at the site which had been "open to the elements for a good 20 years".

He said the academy would also offer trampolining, parkour, martial arts, dancing, preschool gymnastics and office space.

"I don't care if you're seven or 77, we want there to be a place for you in this place," he added.

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