The Car Man

The Car Man description

It's like Bizet's beloved Carmen, brought up to date in a dangerous production full of lust, scandal and passion. This is Matthew Bourne's The Car Man, an award-winning dance show that's been thrilling audiences since its premiere in 2002. This is your chance to experience the delights of the soaring, familiar music, based on Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin's Bolshoi Ballet version of Bizet's 1875 opera, with additional music by Terry Davies. The plot roughly follows James M. Cain's 1934 novel The Postman Always Rings Twice, and the result is about as far from regular ballet as it gets. A thoroughly contemporary dance show, it is known for frank scenes of sex, violence and homoeroticism - an explosive experience.

The 1800s Spanish cigarette factory from Bizet's opera is replaced by a greasy spoon cafe-diner in small-town Midwest USA. When a handsome stranger turns up all hell is let loose as he hurls the community into a blistering spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge. The magic is directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, with extra Music by Terry Davies. Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite, written after Bizet's Carmen, sits at the heart of the score. There's Design by Lez Brotherston, Sound by Paul Groothuis and Lighting by Chris Davey. This powerful contemporary dance masterpiece will leave you breathless.

Playing at Sadlers Wells (venue info)

Performance Times for The Car Man