Spacey helps bring theatre to Mideast

Dubai - Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey is hoping to foster dramatic talent in the Middle East with a new theatre arts academy.

The joint venture by the Kevin Spacey Foundation and another group led by an Emirati business tycoon plans to offer workshops and classes in every aspect of theatre from acting to stage design. The mission also seeks to bring Middle Eastern content to international venues such as Broadway.

Spacey, who is artistic director of London's Old Vic Theatre, unveiled The Middle East Theatre Academy on Sunday in Dubai. The academy will not have a specific base, but will take up projects across the region.

Spacey is in the United Arab Emirates to host the Laureus sports awards on Monday in Abu Dhabi.