Cameron Mackintosh: I want to make a Betty Blue Eyes film with Sarah Lancashire
© All images are copyright Dan Wooller, 2011
He's had quite a lot on his plate recently – announcing a new tour of Hamilton and Bernadette Peters' West End debut in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, but it looks like Cameron Mackintosh is already plotting for the future – and a possible return to the world of cinema.
Chatting exclusively backstage at the 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards last month, Mackintosh expressed his desire to make a big-screen version of Stiles and Drew musical Betty Blues Eyes.
The show, which is based on the 1984 comedy film by Alan Bennett, first opened in the West End at the Novello Theatre in 2011 starring Sarah Lancashire, Reece Shearsmith and Ann Emery. It was nominated for five WhatsOnStage Awards and three Olivier Awards.
Set in 1947 austerity Britain, it tells the story of humble chiropodist Gilbert Chilvers and his ferocious wife Joyce, who decide to steal a pig.
Mackintosh said he'd love to reunite the stage cast for the movie – including Lancashire, who recently appeared in the film version of Everybody's Talking About Jamie and led the much-revered television series Happy Valley.
We'll keep you posted on any further developments. In the meantime, could the show be due a stage revival?
