New Adventures announces the return of Matthew Bourne's legendary dance thriller THE CAR MAN * Fairy Powered Productions

FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS…

NEW ADVENTURES ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF

MATTHEW BOURNE’S LEGENDARY DANCE THRILLER

FOR AN EXTENSIVE UK TOUR

AND

SADLER’S WELLS SUMMER SEASON

OPENING AT CURVE, LEICESTER
FROM 15 JUNE 2026

New Adventures is delighted to announce that Matthew Bourne’s award-winning dance thriller THE CAR MAN will return for a 2026 UK tour, opening at Curve, Leicester on 15 June 2026 before visiting a further 16 venues over 22 weeks, including a 5-week summer season at Sadler’s Wells. Listings information below with casting to be announced.

Loosely based on Bizet’s ever-popular opera, THE CAR MAN has one of the most thrilling and instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures’ repertoire. The familiar 19^th Century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy 1950’s garage-diner in the American Mid-West where the dreams and passions of a small-town are shattered by the arrival of a handsome and enigmatic stranger. Fuelled by heat and desire, the inhabitants are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.

Matthew Bourne said today: “I never dreamed when we created this show at the beginning of the new millennium that it would still be around, thrilling audiences, 25 years later! Inspired by vintage movie film noir classics, it holds a unique and special place in the New Adventures repertory as the only piece based on an opera and possibly the first ballet to feature a bi-sexual anti-hero! I’m particularly happy that we are taking the show “on the road” again after more than 10 years and I can’t wait to re-visit the hot and steamy town of Harmony USA – the best place to be next Summer!”

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. It was last seen in a unique revival for The Royal Albert Halls 150^th Birthday in 2022. This expanded production received rave reviews and nightly standing ovations. However, this will be the first time THE CAR MAN has toured since 2015.

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

For more information please visit: www.new-adventures.net

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LISTINGS

MONDAY 15 – SATURDAY 20 JUNE 2026

CURVE, LEICESTER

www.curveonline.co.uk

ON SALE 11 NOVEMBER 2025

TUESDAY 23 – SATURDAY 27 JUNE 2026

LOWRY, SALFORD

thelowry.com

ON SALE 21 NOVEMBER 2025

TUESDAY 30 – SATURDAY 4 JULY 2026