Peterborough author's delight at seeing his children's book 'Stitch Head' brought to life on the big screen - with voices provided by Gavin and Stacey stars Rob Brydon and Alison Steadman
It’s every author's dream to see one of their books adapted for the silver screen.
But this is now a reality for Guy Bass, as his children’s book ‘Stitch Head’ has been turned into a feature film – now showing at UK cinemas.
The novel was first published in 2011, later becoming a series of six novels and two graphic novels. It’s latest big screen incarnation features the voices of actors Rob Brydon, Asa Butterfield and Alison Steadman.
"It’s been 15 years since Stitch Head was first published, and more than a decade since the film rights were first optioned,” explained Guy, who grew up in Peterborough. “These roads tend to be long and bumpy and part of me never thought we’d get here, but Stitch Head is out now in UK cinemas nationwide courtesy of Kazoo Films.”
Speaking about how it felt to first see his creations brought to life on the big screen, he said: “It was fantastically surreal. The characters moved and sounded like they do in my head.”
The story features a mad professor's first, long-forgotten creation - Stitch Head. He hides away in the shadows of a long-forgotten castle, only emerging to protect his master from his own monsters, which have become increasingly monstrous creations. An angry mob in the nearby town threatens to storm their castle home before a circus owner offers Stitch Head a new life as the star of his freakshow.
"I feel very lucky that Stitch Head has stuck around for so long,” Guy went on. “Thanks to all the booksellers, teachers, librarians, parents and kind souls who have supported the books for so long and helped to get them in the hands and brains of young readers.”
The books and graphic novels, published by Little Tiger, are illustrated by Pete Williamson whom Guy describes as “brilliant – with artwork that is both “gloomy” and “humourous”.
"It adds so much atmosphere to the stories,” said Guy. “In the graphic novels especially Pete does a lot of the heavy lifting!”
Brought up in Wansford, where his parents still live, Guy attended The King’s (The Cathedral) School in Peterborough before later relocating to London.
Stitch Head (U) is showing now at Showcase Cinema De Lux, Peterborough.