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The car man, last performed at the royal albert hall in a spectacular re-imagined production for the hall's 150th anniversary.

The Car Man is loosely based on Bizet’s popular opera (Carmen) and has one of the most thrilling and instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures’ repertory, brilliantly arranged by Terry Davies.

The familiar 19th Century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy garage-diner in 1960’s America where the dreams and passions of a small-town are shattered by the arrival of a handsome stranger. Fuelled by heat and desire, the inhabitants are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.

Lez Brotherston’s epic design, Chris Davey’s evocative lighting and Matthew Bourne’s vivid storytelling take in a wealth of cinematic references, creating a dangerous and uncompromising vision of small-town America.

The Car Man was first seen in 2000, winning the Evening Standard Award for “Musical Event of the Year”. A revival in 2007 proved a smash-hit in London and at venues accross the UK. In 2015, Zizi Strallen won the "Outstanding Female Dancer (Modern)" Award at the National Dance Awards. Since 1 March 2016 The Car Man has been shown in over 150 cinemas worldwide.

As part of the Royal Albert Hall's 150th anniversary celebrations, New Adventures brought a new staging of the multi-award winning production of The Car Man to the Royal Albert Hall's stage for the first time in 2022. This was the first time New Adventures performed a full production at this historic and iconic venue. The show was completely reimagined for the gladiatorial arena of the Royal Albert Hall, featuring an expanded company of 65 dancers and musicians, a live orchestra and epic new designs.

The Car Man contains scenes of a sexual nature, brief nudity, strobe lighting and gunshots. Age guidance 12+.

★★★★★ A sizzling Bourne adventure. Sultry perfection. The Observer

The History of the Show

World Premiere: 16 May 2000 at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth

After opening in Plymouth in May 2000, it played London’s historic Old Vic Theatre for an extended 19 week run from 4 September 2000 and was subsequently the winner of the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Outstanding Musical Event. A UK and International Tour followed in 2001/02 and included Lisbon, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv (2 weeks), Saint Paul, MI (2 weeks), Los Angeles, CA (8 weeks), Berkeley, CA, and Tokyo Otsu Osaka Kobe.

Dubbed ‘an auto-erotic thriller’, the production was filmed in 2001 at Pinewood Studios (still available on DVD).

The show was revived in 2007 and played a smash hit UK Tour opening on 18 June that year at the Plymouth Theatre Royal. It was then revived again in 2015 for a limited 16 week UK tour. The tour opened at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley, on 14 April 2015, with a four week summer season at Sadler’s Wells from 14 July to 9 August 2015.

The show was filmed live at Sadler's Wells in August 2015 and, following screenings in cinemas worldwide throughout 2016, was released on DVD & Blu-ray in November 2017. In 2020, The Car Man had its broadcast premiere on Sky Arts and became available to purchase or rent digitally as part of New Adventures' Festival of Classics .

Photos & Videos

Awards & reviews.

EVENING STANDARD AWARD 2000 Winner of Musical Event of the Year

OLIVIER AWARDS 2000 Nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Dance

NATIONAL DANCE AWARDS 2015 Zizi Strallen won Outstanding Female Dancer (Modern) Award for her role as Lana

Learn & Explore

Cast and creative team interviews, inside the rehearsal room, photoshoots and more. join us on our journey as we reimagine the car man  for the royal albert hall., matthew bourne's vision, sir matthew bourne obe.

We love a photoshoot here at New Adventures! Check out the final photography by Johan Persson on our social media platforms.

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Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man

In partnership with Center Theatre Group on its Digital Stage platform, enjoy an on-demand film screening of celebrated British choreographer Matthew Bourne’s acclaimed The Car Man .

Dec. 11-13, 2020

Upcoming Dates

Fri. Dec. 11, 2020 10a.m.

Sat. Dec. 12, 2020 10a.m.

Sun. Dec. 13, 2020 10a.m.

Event Information

Price Range

Buy Tickets

Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man is an on demand streaming presentation on Center Theatre Group's Digital Stage. You will be re-directed to their website to purchase tickets and to watch the digital performance. For questions or streaming issues please contact Center Theatre Group directly at (213) 628-2772, Monday through Friday 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, or [email protected] .

During the on demand period ticket holders can log in and watch the performance on Center Theatre Group’s website  here .

A New Adventures and Illuminations production Presented in partnership with Center Theatre Group on its Digital Stage platform

The Car Man is one of modern dance’s most thrilling and entertaining shows and a signature production for Matthew Bourne’s company New Adventures. First seen in 2000, when it won the Evening Standard Award for “Musical Event of the Year”, it has proved to be a smash-hit in the UK and around the world. This recording for Sky Arts was made at Sadler’s Wells during the production’s most recent revival.

The Car Man is loosely based on Bizet’s popular opera Carmen  and has one of the most instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures’ repertory, brilliantly arranged by Terry Davies. The familiar 19th-century Spanish cigarette factory of the opera becomes a greasy garage-diner in the American mid-west of the 1960s. The arrival of a handsome stranger disturbs the dreams and passions ofthose who live and work there. Fuelled by heat and desire, the townsfolk are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge. Lez Brotherston’s epic design and Chris Davey’s evocative lighting perfectly complement Matthew Bourne’s vivid choreographic storytelling, which draws on a wealth of cinematic references.Together with the glorious dancing of a wonderful cast, they create a delightful, dangerous and ultimately uncompromising vision of small-town America.

“Superb, witty, drop-dead-sexy” Daily Telegraph

Official Trailer

Matthew Bourne's The Car Man

2020-2021 On-Site and Digital Activations are brought to you by David M. Rubenstein .

Support for Dance at the Kennedy Center is provided by Suzanne L. Niedland

A New Adventures and Illuminations production for Sky Matthew Bourne’s production of The Car Man was filmed live at Sadler’s Wells during its 2015 National Tour

Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man is a digital presentation by Center Theatre Group.

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Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man review – steamy dance thriller with a supercharged engine

Royal Albert Hall, London Bourne’s 1950s potboiler has been beefed up for a larger venue. The result is classy, trashy – and deeply serious

Matthew Bourne ’s The Car Man is a steamy, pulp-fiction take on the opera Carmen. Its object of desire is Luca, a sweaty hunk who has drifted into a small town in 1950s America, where he two-times his lovers: Lana, the sultry wife of the local garage owner, and Angelo, a gentle, bullied young man who doesn’t fit the macho girls-and-gangs culture around him. The show was a hit when first performed in 2000, acclaimed for its potent mix-up of gender and genre (buffs will have fun spotting the film references, the nods to ballets, modern dance and musicals, and savouring the retro designs and iconography). Now it is back in a scaled-up version – bigger! bolder! beefier! – for a limited run at London’s Royal Albert Hall. What this vast auditorium loses – some pressure-cooker intensity, some dramatic detail – the production makes up for. The fantastically versatile, multilevel set cleverly incorporates a live orchestra and billboard screens; it can switch scenes at the flick of a light switch, and extends along a thrust stage down which the dancers can parade or hurtle. The amplified music combines numbers from Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite with sound effects, so that it serves as both orchestral score and cinema soundtrack.

Bourne ties the choreography tightly to the storytelling. After the initial scene-setting group numbers, act one is sparked, driven and finally combusted by carnal lust: Luca (Will Bozier in tonight’s production; there are two alternating casts) has a grapplesome coupling with smouldering Lana (Zizi Strallen), followed swiftly by an enthusiastic back-seat ride with smitten Angelo (Paris Fitzpatrick) that sets the whole car quivering. The rest of the cast, having swapped and tasted each other’s cigarettes, break out into polymorphous rutting – not so much sex between individual people as Eros unleashed. If the ensemble choreography tends towards blockiness, it’s the partnering that matters here: limb-tangling, boundary-breaking, power-shifting and space-devouring. In true potboiler style, sex leads to deceit and violence, and act two is fuelled by guilt and revenge. The lead dancers carry the story with full-bodied conviction, but the entire cast seem to relish their roles in a work that is outrageously melodramatic and deeply serious, classy and trashy, manipulative and sincere. Like Luca himself, The Car Man brazenly gets to have it both ways.

At the Royal Albert Hall , London, until 19 June

• Matthew Bourne
• Georges Bizet

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'The Car Man' review — Matthew Bourne's steamy dance drama is back with a bang

Never mind the summer heatwave – the hottest place in London right now is the Royal Albert Hall. As part of the venue’s 150th anniversary celebrations, Matthew Bourne has retooled his turbo-charged 2000 production The Car Man , which riffs on both the opera Carmen and the film noir classic The Postman Always Rings Twice .

This new version is bigger and bolder than ever, with a massive cast of 39, a full orchestra (giving a magnificent account of Terry Davies’ reworking of the Rodion Shchedrin Carmen Suite ), two retro cars, multiple cinematic screens, and a huge catwalk – framed with telegraph poles – that runs from the stage and all the way through the arena seats. It’s on this stretch of empty road that we first glimpse the brooding stranger sauntering into town, the catalyst for the coming explosion.

Ironically, this small 1960s Italian-American town is named Harmony, one of the many witty elements that perfectly leaven this steamy, violent tale, and which further demonstrate just why Bourne is considered our finest dance storyteller. It really doesn’t matter whether or not you know his source material: a packed Albert Hall audience was rapt throughout.

Lana, the bored wife of the local diner and garage owner, Dino, is immediately drawn to the stranger, Luca. When the pair are finally alone, the atmosphere becomes dangerously charged and we all hold a long breath until they crash into one another in an eruption of forbidden passion. There’s nothing coy or cute about the sex scenes here: this is a sweaty tangle of lustful limbs, brutal grabs and thrusts, and a savagery that hints at the bloodshed to follow.

That carnality is echoed by the company, the muscled, macho mechanics dancing with clenched fists, stamping feet and cigarettes hanging out of their mouths, while the women hoist their skirts and slap the floor. There’s also one gay male coupling, and an amusing subsequent sequence where the male and female lovers of the same man bask in the afterglow, unaware of each other.

But otherwise Bourne stays fairly faithful to his period setting, interrogating a culture of toxic masculinity that sees Lana humiliated and objectified by her boorish husband, and, in turn, use her sexuality to engineer an escape route. We also see the sweet, innocent romance between Lana’s sister Rita and sensitive young Angelo mocked by the others. Luca teaches Angelo to fight, but that only becomes part of his tragic transformation into yet another thuggish man.

Bourne’s characterisation is crystal clear throughout, which helps enormously given that the performances now have to be projected so much further. There’s an assist from Lez Brotherston’s arresting design (that diner is palpably greasy and grimy) and Duncan McLean’s stylish projections, which switch between vintage ads, location shots and old Hollywood-style portraits of our main players at crucial points. But mainly we get all the information we need from the brilliantly tailored movement.

Zizi Strallen immediately locates Lana in her self-consciously slinky walk; she’s always aware of the effect she has on others. Yet there’s a gloomy lethargy to her until Luca arrives, and she suddenly finds a new verve and purpose. Strallen is strongest in these vivacious moments, but I didn’t entirely buy her as the ruthless femme fatale who would dismissively kick a corpse.

Still, she has great chemistry with the sinewy Will Bozier as Luca, and he certainly gives this seducer the full hip-swivelling swagger – plus an unpredictable temper. He’s excellent, too, in the darker second half as his crimes come back to haunt him, particularly in a nightmarish psychological number which sees him partnering a dead body.

Paris Fitzpatrick and Kayla Collymore are also fantastic as the corrupted young couple, dancing with lyrical, heart-wrenching expressiveness throughout, while Alan Vincent’s Dino is an effectively towering monster. And I loved the mini send-up of French mime artists, led by the vivid Bryony Harrison.

Bourne’s production is full of such inventive touches and clever tonal switches, leaping from a whooping hoedown to jailhouse despair and a mighty melodramatic climax. The heat almost becomes an extra character, thanks to Chris Davey’s evocative lighting – a woozy haze with harsh neon from the diner sign or the eerie glow of car headlights – and Paul Groothuis’s cicada and castenet-punctuated soundscape.

The Car Man is also by far the sexiest thing I’ve seen at the Albert Hall, and not just because Bourne includes a naked shower scene with plenty of buff bottoms. Yes, you do miss some of the intimacy in this bigger arena, and the larger chorus doesn’t always feel necessary. But the story’s core desire, desperation and destruction still come across with thrilling force. This unmissable dance drama is a hell of a ride.

The Car Man is at the Royal Albert Hall to 19 June. Book The Car Man tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: Will Bozier and Zizi Strallen in The Car Man (Photo by Johan Persson)

Originally published on Jun 13, 2022 09:53

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Matthew Bourne's The Car Man

The Car Man is an award-winning ballet written by Matthew Bourne and based on Georges Bizet's opera Carmen.

The Car Man made its debut in 2000 in the UK.

• Matthew Bourne [choreographer]

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Matthew Bourne's New Adventures

Matthew Bourne's New Adventures is the UK's premier contemporary dance/theatre touring company. Its repertory includes some of the most successful more...

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Past Events

Here are the most recent UK tour dates we had listed for Matthew Bourne's New Adventures. Were you there?

• 2022 Jun 09 Jun 19 2022 London, Royal Albert Hall The Car Man Matthew Bourne's New Adventures
• 2021 Nov 23 Nov 27 2021 Bath Theatre Royal The Midnight Bell Matthew Bourne's New Adventures
• 2021 Oct 04 Oct 09 2021 London, Sadler's Wells Theatre Matthew Bourne's The Midnight Bell Matthew Bourne's New Adventures
• 2021 Sep 14 Sep 18 2021 Brighton, Theatre Royal Matthew Bourne's The Midnight Bell Matthew Bourne's New Adventures
• 2021 Jun 17 Jun 27 2021 London, Royal Albert Hall The Car Man Matthew Bourne's New Adventures
• 2018 Jul 12 Jul 15 2018 Southwold, Henham Park Latitude Festival 2018 The Killers, Solange, alt-j, Belle & Sebastian, The Vaccines…
• Jan 26 2018 Farnham Maltings Matthew Bourne's New Adventures
• 2017 Jul 27 Jul 30 2017 East Lulworth, Lulworth Castle Camp Bestival 2017 Mark Ronson, All Saints, Ray Blk, Becky Hill, The Cuban Brothers…
• Apr 26 2016 Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Matthew Bourne's New Adventures

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Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Announces Casting For The Car Man at the Royal Albert Hall

Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Announces Casting For The Car Man at the Royal Albert Hall. Two week season now on sale this June.

New Adventures and the Royal Albert Hall are delighted to announce casting for Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man reimagined in a spectacular new staging for the Royal Albert Hall’s 150th Anniversary. The Car Man  will play 14 performances only at the iconic venue from Thursday 9 – Sunday 19 June 2022 . The Car Man Tickets are now on sale.

The multi award winning, dance-thriller based on Bizet’s beloved Carmen, The Car Man will be completely reimagined for the gladiatorial arena of the Royal Albert Hall , adding a frisson of danger as the dancers perform throughout the auditorium amid stage designs by Olivier and Tony award-winner Lez Brotherston.

Featuring an expanded company of 65 dancers and musicians, a live orchestra and epic new designs, this will be the first time New Adventures performs a full production at this historic and world-renowned venue. The event is one of the highlights of the Royal Albert Hall’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

The title role of ‘Luca, The Car Man’, will be played by Will Bozier and Richard Winsor. Will Bozier, playing ‘Luca; for the first time, was last seen as ‘The Swan/Stranger’ in “Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake” in 2018/20 and also stars in the recent film version. Most recently, he has been featured in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cinderella” at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.  Richard Winsor, also a former Lead Swan, has a history with “The Car Man” that goes back to his debut with New Adventures in 2001. He has played several roles within the production (including ‘Angelo’) and now returns in his debut as ‘Luca’. As well as playing a host of leading roles with New Adventures he was most recently seen as ‘Tony Manero’ at the Peacock Theatre in “Saturday Night Fever”.

The role of ‘Lana’ will be danced by Ashley Shaw and Zizi Strallen. Ashley Shaw has been a Principal performer with New Adventures since 2009 playing most of the leading roles in the repertory. She won a National Dance Award for her acclaimed portrayal as ‘Victoria Page’ in New Adventures “The Red Shoes” in 2018. Also returning to the role of ‘Lana’ is Zizi Strallen who won a National Dance Award for playing this role in 2016. Zizi is currently starring in the title role of “Mary Poppins” at The Prince Edward Theatre.

The role of ‘Angelo’ will be shared by Paris Fitzpatrick and Dominic North. Paris Fitzpatrick was most recently seen in Matthew Bourne’s newest work, “The Midnight Bell” and also created the role of ‘Romeo’ in New Adventures hit production of “Romeo and Juliet” in 2019. This will be his debut as ‘Angelo’. Dominic North, one of New Adventures most popular dancers for close to 20 years will return to the role of ‘Angelo’, a role that he also plays in the most recent film production. He was most recently seen as ‘Fritz’ in the hit production of Nutcracker!

‘Rita’, Lana’s older sister, will be performed by Kayla Collymore and Kate Lyons. Kayla Collymore will be making her Principal debut in the role of ‘Rita’ in “The Car Man”. Kayla featured in New Adventures world tour of “Swan Lake” and can currently be seen in a variety of roles in New Adventures Nutcracker! Kate Lyons returns to the role of ‘Rita’, having played her to great acclaim in the recent film version. Kate joined New Adventures in 2010 for “Cinderella” and has featured in most of the company’s repertory since that time, most recently in “The Midnight Bell’.

The role of ‘Dino’ Lana’s violent husband will be played by Alan Vincent. Alan Vincent is returning to the show in which he created the title role of ‘Luca, The Car Man’ at the shows premiere in 2000. This time he will be playing the role of ‘Dino’ following a stellar career with New Adventures that saw him play leading roles in pieces as diverse as “Play Without Words”, “Nutcracker!” and ‘The Swan’ in “Swan Lake”.

Joining them are: Jonathon Luke Baker (Franco); Benjamin Barlow Bazeley (Fabio); Alistair Beattie (Marcello); Stephanie Billers (Delores); Isaac Peter Bowry (Elio); Cordelia Braithwaite (Mercedes); Ben Brown (Ricardo); Reece Causton (Dirk); Jade Copas (Natalie); Harrison Dowzell (Rocco); Cameron Flynn (Roberto); Rose Goddard (Sophia); Glenn Graham (Bruno); Bryony Harrison (Frankie); Shoko Ito (Elisabetta); Monique Jonas (Bianca); Nicole Kabera (Gina); Kurumi Kamayachi (Silvana); Katrina Lyndon (Monica); Rory Macleod (Marco); Andrew Monaghan (Vito); Stephen Murray (Chad); Harry Ondrak-Wright (Lorenzo); Edwin Ray (Alberto); Danny Reubens (Hot Rod); Sam Salter (Raf); Gabrielle de Souza (Giulietta); Catrin Thomas (Claudia); Christopher Thomas (Ugo) and Bryony Wood (Elsa).

Full Daily Principal Casting for the Royal Albert Hall Season will be posted on Tuesday 10 May.

Matthew Bourne’s vivid storytelling combines with one of the most passionately dramatic scores ever written, with musical arrangements by Terry Davies featuring Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite (after Bizet’s Carmen), to create a dance event like no other.

The 19th Century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy garage-diner in 1960s America where a small-town’s dreams are shattered by the arrival of a handsome stranger. Fuelled by heat and desire, the inhabitants are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.

The Car Manis directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, with music by Terry Davies & Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite (after Bizet’s Carmen); designs by Lez Brotherston; lighting by Chris Davey and sound by Paul Groothius.

BOOK THE CAR MAN TICKETS ARE THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.

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Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man at The Royal Albert Hall – June 2021

December 3, 2020 Last updated: May 2, 2021 12:56 pm By Admin

As part of the Royal Albert Hall’s 150th Anniversary celebrations, New Adventures and the Royal Albert Hall are delighted to announce that Matthew Bourne’s multi-award winning dance thriller THE CAR MAN will play 14 performances only at the iconic venue from Thursday 17 – Sunday 27 June 2021. General on sale at 10.00am on 10th December 2020. www.royalalberthall.com Casting to be announced soon. These performances of THE CAR MAN will be the only performances of the show in the UK in 2021.

Lucy Noble, Artistic Director at the Royal Albert Hall said today “ We’re so incredibly excited to welcome The Car Man to the Royal Albert Hall as a highlight of our anniversary celebrations. This is one of modern dance’s most thrilling shows , and to see it specially adapted to the scale and grandeur of this spectacular space promises to be an unforgettable experience. ”

Matthew Bourne said today “ The Car Man may have found its perfect setting in the epic and spectacular surroundings of Britain’s favourite venue, the Royal Albert Hall. This unique and iconic landmark will only heighten the visceral thrill and emotional highs of a piece already regarded as a classic favourite in the New Adventures repertoire. As a lifelong lover and supporter of the Royal Albert Hall, I am delighted to be a part of its 150th birthday celebrations! it is a real career highlight for me to present my work here for the first time and create what will no doubt be, an important moment in New Adventures history. Whether you have seen The Car Man before or not, you will not want to miss this re-imagined “event” production of the show in an expanded staging that will also be a celebration of our return to live performance after more than fifteen months – We cannot wait to welcome you back too!. ”

Based on Bizet’s beloved Carmen, the familiar 19th Century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy garage-diner in 1960’s America where the dreams and passions of a small town are shattered by the arrival of a handsome stranger. Fuelled by heat and desire, the inhabitants are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.

Matthew Bourne’s vivid storytelling combines with one of the most thrilling and passionately dramatic scores ever written, featuring Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite (after Bizet’s Carmen), and new arrangements of Bizet’s legendary score, by New Adventures Associate Artist, Terry Davies.

THE CAR MAN was first seen in 2000, winning the Evening Standard Award for Musical Event of the Year and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Choreography.

THE CAR MAN is directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, with music by Terry Davies & Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite (after Bizet’s Carmen); designed by Lez Brotherston with lighting by Chris Davey and sound by Paul Groothuis.

New Adventures is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.

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Matthew Bourne’s Brilliant “The Car Man”

Posted by Joanne DiVito | Dec 16, 2020

If it returns to this area, one absolutely must see Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures digital presentation of his powerful Theatre Dance piece, “The Car Man.”  It runs 1 hour and 38 minutes and not one minute is extemporaneous nor rambling. This Award winning “Musical Event” was presented on Friday, December 11, through Sunday, December13, 2020 by the Center Theatre Group . Better yet, perhaps the company will return to Los Angeles soon to perform this wonderful production live post-pandemic.

Often referred to as a “Dance-Thriller” it is an intense expression of Bourne’s genius not only as an intelligent and organic choreographer, but as a dramatist that makes his stories come alive.  His musicality, sense of pacing, and uncanny ability to surprise with an exquisitely designed conclusion, expresses his understanding of the human condition so moving and powerful one cannot hold back tears.

Bourne in his pre-performance talk reveals that no characters were intended to be fashioned after Bizet’s Carmen.   However, he admits there are some parallels, perhaps the characters Lana and Luca.  He actually sees the story as loosely based on the 1934 novel “The Postman Always Rings Twice” by James Cain and the Noire film of 1946 with John Garfield, Lana Turner, and 1981 with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange.

Matthew Bourne’s “The Car Man” – Photo by Johan Persson, courtesy of Center Theatre Group

Luca, the Drifter, The Car Man, appears in the factory town of Harmony.  Chris Trenfield, with his masculine eagle like focus so brilliantly counters the chaos of the gathering factory folk. He is soon fixed and burning for the sensual, and married, Lana.

Lana, a waitress at Dino’s Diner, is married to the irascible Dino, played by Alan Vincent, (the original 2001 character of Luca).  She soon notices the newcomer and lures him to her with her wiles to the gorgeous Seguidillas.  Lana is played by the remarkable Zizi Strallen, so secure and free as an actress and phenomenal technical dancer, she stuns and captivates with her range. One can almost hear the recitative from the Habanera “When will I love you?…I don’t know, Maybe never, But not today.“ The tease brings intensity to the relationship between Luca and Lana, distracted only by the sudden presence of Lana’s husband,

This happens against the nascent love and desire of Lana’s sister, Rita, also a waitress at the Diner, played by the delicate responsive Kate Lyons.  Rita’s affection for Angelo, the hired help, supports Dominic North’s stunning portrayal of a timid and innocent boy unschooled in the ways of the world and mercilessly harassed and bullied by the ultra macho males of the town.

Like a Greek Chorus of bawdy bored townsfolk, all incite and instigate the tyranny until halted by Luca . This sets the scene for raw machismo eroticism; heartbreaking twists of fate; along with murder and mayhem…thus, a “Dance thriller.”

The Ensemble of Matthew Bourne’s “The Car Man” – Photo by Johan Persson, courtesy of the company.

This was Bourne’s first time collaboration creating a complete score with composer Terry Davies.  Davies based the score on Russian Born, Rodion Schedrin’s Carmen Suite (after the Bizet Carmen ). Davies cleverly employed just strings and percussion with additional music based on the original score.

The music had a beautiful range between the near underscoring of familiar Bizet melodies, to the rowdy quadrille of the Toreador Song, Lana’s sultry Seguidilla and the famed Habanera. Bourne’s love and sensitivity to the music added choreographed sounds of feet pounding, and hands dropping against the wood floor, countering the musical underscoring.  The use of vocal cheering, yelling and comments, gave a live and immediate feel of being a part of the story.

The designer of Set and Costumes, Lez Brotherston and the Lighting Designer, Chris Davey highlighted the characters with exquisite sensitivity creating emotional notice of the quality of the ambiance, performance and mood.

The rest of this amazing cast included dancers Cordelia Braithaite, Tom Clark, Daniel Collins, Pia Driver, Glenn Graham, Nicole Kabera, Katrina Lyndon, Andrew Monaghan, Leon Moran, Danny Reubens, Katie Webb, Daniel Wright.

The way The Car Man was filmed live at the Sadler’s Wells during their 2015 National Tour in partnership with Illuminations Production for Sky Arts using six cameras, created the full emotional and physical impact of the story.  A rare and sensitive way to see theatre these days, and a treat for the emotions, aesthetics and the art of Theatre Dance.  Hopefully, it will be extended by the Center Theater Group for those wishing to see it for the first time or repeat-visit to this searingly brilliant theatre.

To learn more about Matthew Bourne / New Adventures, click HERE .

To visit the Center Theatre Group website, click HERE .

Written by Joanne DiVito for LA Dance Chronicle .

Featured image: Zizi Strallen and Chris Trenfield in Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man – Photo courtesy of the company.

About The Author

Joanne DiVito

While working as an agent for Bobby Ball Agency, she was asked to head the West Coast Office of Career Transition for Dancers, at Screen Actors Guild. Its mission was to help professional dancers bridge their careers to new challenging and fulfilling professions. She created programs, that assisted dancers in connecting, educating and fulfilling a wide range of goals and aspirations. As an example, Joanne brought the LEAP program to Los Angeles, helping dancers get their Bachelors Degrees so they could compete as leaders in the community. She developed the “Dancers Forum” which brought together respected opinion leaders of the dance world, such as Nigel Lythgoe, Debbie Allen, Renae Williams Niles, Tony Basil, Lula Washington, Sasha Anawalt, Jamal Simms, Julie McDonald, and so many others. She encouraged dancers to get Grants to go back to school and start new businesses, was a passionate leader of the National Outreach program all around the U.S. while working on her own Bachelors Degree. Upon graduating from the LEAP program in 2007 she began working at Cal State Northridge under the leadership of Dr. Paula Thomson. Dance and dancers have always been her passion, and she is so proud to be chosen as a judge for the Music Center’s Spotlight Awards, with Jeri Gaile at its helm. The Spotlight Awards gives recognition to young up-and-coming artists and inspires young people to reach out and be their best brilliant selves. Joanne is now also taking the opportunity to move into her next love, “writing”. She is so proud to join the talented and generous Jeff Slayton and Roger Martin Holman’s in their timely and important L.A. Dance Chronicle, side by side with the gracious and gifted Ann Haskins.

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The HYMN World Tour is Coming to Moscow!

The HYMN World Tour is coming to Crocus City Hall in the exciting city of Moscow, Russia on October 29th!

Moscow is also home to the Moscow Kremlin, a fortified complex in the center of the city overlooking the Moskva River to the south, Saint Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square to the east, and the Alexander Garden to the west. It is the best known of the Russian citadels and includes five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers.

Tickets and VIP packages to all announced shows on the HYMN tour are available. More dates to be announced soon! https://sarahbrightman.com/tours

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Closure In Moscow

Closure in moscow tour dates.

• ALTERNATIVE

Closure in Moscow is an extraordinary Australian progressive rock band that has been capturing the hearts of fans globally with their unique sound. Formed in 2006, the band quickly gained recognition with their debut EP "The Penance and the Patience." Their music is a vibrant blend of progressive rock, post-hardcore, and experimental rock, creating a sound that is both distinctive and captivating. The band consists of talented members: Christopher de Cinque, Mansur Zennelli, Michael Barrett, Salvatore Aidone, and Duncan Millar. They have released two full-length albums, "First Temple" and "Pink Lemonade," each showcasing their musical evolution and creativity. Closure in Moscow's performances are known for their high energy and dynamic stage presence, making their concerts a must-see for any rock music enthusiast. Stay tuned with ConcertFix for updates on Closure in Moscow's tour dates, concert tickets, and music news.

Closure In Moscow Concert Schedule

No events =(, about closure in moscow tour albums.

Closure In Moscow came on to the Alternative scene with the introduction of tour album "First Temple", published on N/A. The song immediatley became a hit and made Closure In Moscow one of the top new great shows to attend. Following the introduction of "First Temple", Closure In Moscow published "The Penance And The Patience" on N/A. The album "The Penance And The Patience" stayed as one of the more beloved tour albums from Closure In Moscow. The Tour Albums three top singles included , , and and are a big hit at every performance. Closure In Moscow has released 7 more tour albums since "The Penance And The Patience". With over 0 years of albums, Closure In Moscow top tour album has been "First Temple" and some of the best concert songs are , , and .

Closure In Moscow Tour Albums and Songs

Closure In Moscow: First Temple

• Kissing Cousins
• Reindeer Age
• A Night at the Spleen
• I'm a Ghost of Twilight
• Arecibo Message
• Couldn't Let You Lov...
• Had to Put It In the...

Closure In Moscow: Pink Lemonade

• Pink Lemonade
• Neoprene Byzantine
• Seeds of Gold
• That Brahmatron Song
• Dinosaur Boss Battle
• Mauerbauertraurigkeit
• The Church of the Te...
• Beckon Fire

Closure In Moscow: The Penance And The Patience

• We Want Guarantees, ...
• Breathing Underwater
• Here’s To Entropy
• Ofelia....Ofelia
• Jewels For Eyes

Closure In Moscow: Better Way

Closure In Moscow: Soft Hell

• Jaeger Bomb
• Primal Sinister
• Absolute Terror Field
• Keeper of the Lake
• Don Juan Triumphant
• My Dearest Kate

Closure In Moscow Concert Tour Questions & Comments

Closure in moscow tour and concert ticket information.

• Tickets for the forthcoming Closure In Moscow concert are now available.
• Closure In Moscow concert schedule has just been reported.
• Concert schedule for Closure In Moscow is located on top.
• Tour schedules for all Closure In Moscow concerts are revised on a regular basis.
• Front row tickets will not be any concern, we always have top quality tickets.

Closure In Moscow could be coming to a city near you. Check out the Closure In Moscow schedule just above and push the ticket button to checkout our big selection of tickets. Look through our selection of Closure In Moscow front row tickets, luxury boxes and VIP tickets. Once you track down the Closure In Moscow tickets you need, you can purchase your seats from our safe and secure checkout. Orders taken before 5pm are generally shipped within the same business day. To buy last minute Closure In Moscow tickets, browse through the eTickets that can be downloaded instantly.

Closure In Moscow Top Tour Album

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