Stephen Beresford's film Pride sets sights on West End musical
British comedy drama Pride looks set to be turned into a musical.
Screenwriter Stephen Beresford confirmed that the idea has already been mooted during a Q&A with London Live's Entertainment Producer Simon Thompson at Arthouse in Crouch End on Saturday.
He confirmed: "We have talked about that, yes, it has been discussed, I think it could work. These days, when films are created all those things, these possibilities, are taken into account when they are sorting out the rights. We'll see."
If it goes ahead, Pride - about a group of gay activists from London who head to the South Wales valleys to support the miners in the 1984 strike - wouldn't be the first British dramedy to hit the stage.
In recent years Billy Elliot, The Full Monty, Calendar Girls, The Commitments, Made In Dagenham and Kinky Boots have all been adapted for the stage with a West End version of Bend It Like Beckham also in the works.
Pride - which boasts a cast that includes Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Andrew Scott, Dominic West and Paddy Considine as well as relative newcomer, Ben Schnetzer - is helmed by Matthew Warchus who directed the West End adaptation of Matilda and is set to take over from Kevin Spacey as Artistic Director of The Old Vic.
Beresford added that when he he was trying to get the film made there were few conditions adding: "It took a long time to get it made and when we actually got the go ahead there were only few conditions. They ideally wanted a British actor to play the lead character, Mark Ashton, but Ben - who is American - sent the casting director a video of him doing Mark's Irish accent and he was a perfect fit.
"They also said we couldn't use the word 'communist' because that would make the film impossible to sell in the US. But during the scene at the Pits And Perverts Party someone in the crowd does shout 'Commie' when Mark is on stage addressing the crowd... that was me. Imelda Staunton brandishing a dildo? No, that was fine."
Pride, which is based on a true story, is in cinemas now.
