Get Carter, Hove Town Hall, Hove, May 10 to May 13

Director and producer James Weisz is now bringing Jonathan Holloway’s 2005 adaptation of the gritty revenge thriller to Brighton Festival Fringe, following on from directing last year’s comedy Fringe Award-winning Andy Thomas: Crimes Against Humanities Teachers.

The film Get Carter, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, is based on Ted Lewis’s original novel Jack’s Return Home. For this play Holloway has returned to that original source material.

Get Carter followsLondongangster Jack Carter as he returns to his Northern roots to find out the truth behind his brother’s sudden death.

“Ted’s book was quite different from the film,” says Weisz.

“The film’s director Mike Hodges relocated the story to his home town of Newcastle – it was originally set in Scunthorpe. There were also lots of characters and plot strands that aren’t in the film. And he changed the ending!”

Although it is widely regarded as a classic now, the film didn’t set the world alight on its initial release, with many critics deploring its bleakness and violence.

“The history is amazing,” says Weisz.

“A blaxploitation version [Hit Man] was made scene-by-scene by MGM, because it was thought the American audiences didn’t understand the Newcastle vibe and accent.

“The film’s fortunes only changed in the 1980s and early 1990s when it had a resurgeance on VHS. I think people were ready for it.

“It’s a modern Western, with the old gunslinger coming into town.

But the themes of revenge can be traced back to Shakespeare and even Greek and Roman tragedy.

“Jonathan has done a lot of work on the script. Fortunately the car park scene [where Carter throws Bryan Mosley off the top of hisownbuilding] was made for the film, so we don’t have to chuck anyone off 15 storeys.

“He’s set the play in 17 different locations, which is a challenge, but the size of the Hove Centre will help with that, coupled with the great cast.”

The affection fans have for the film have helped this newstage version get off the ground, with Weisz building a 12-strong cast, including former Gangs Of New York star Nick Bartlett as Carter and Ross Gurney- Randall as crime boss Fletcher.

The crew includes designer Jeffrey Driver and effects supervisor Roland Stevenson who is also working on Ridley Scott’s new Alien prequel.

“I have worked with a lot of the cast before, but it took about eight weeks to get them all together,” says Weisz.

“Nick was recommended to me, and as soon as he read the first line I knew he was right to play Carter.

“We’re really lucky to have people like Roland and Jeffrey in the crew, willing to help out a Fringe show and give it the high production values. It has been quite a struggle sometimes, but having such an iconic name has helped out.”

Indeed help has come from the most unlikely of sources, with playwright Tom Stoppard sending the production a cheque and a message of support.

And the production has also been confirmed for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, despite not yet being staged.

“We are very happy to have those kind of people supporting us,” says Weisz.

“There’s a lot of trust and faith in this show.”

* Starts 8pm, tickets £10/£8.50. Call 01273 917272.