Theatre Royal, Nottingham – until Saturday 26 September 2026
Reviewed by Amy C
5*****
I went to see Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man at Nottingham Theatre Royal expecting an entertaining evening of dance, but I came away feeling like I’d experienced something much more dramatic and exciting. I have to admit that one of the things I enjoyed most was just how steamy and sensual the production was. It certainly wasn’t your typical ballet! Classic Bourne!
The Car Man takes inspiration from the story of Carmen but transports it to a small American town in the 1960s. The characters are on stage when you enter the auditorium, there is a real sense that something is about to happen. The atmosphere is gritty, passionate and slightly dangerous, and that tension carries through the whole performance.
The dancing had me sat open-mouthed. I’m not someone who would claim to know anything about dance, but I found it incredibly easy to get caught up in the story. The performers ooze sensuality, and there is so much chemistry between the characters that you sometimes forget you’re watching a dance production.
And yes, it is very steamy. There’s plenty of flirtation, desire and sexual tension, and some of the scenes are seriously sultry. There were definitely moments where I thought, “I’m glad I’m not watching this with Mum!”
Luca, played by local lad Harrison Dowzell and Lana (Ashley Shaw) oozed cool and sex appeal. The whole cast is exceptional and there’s so much movement on stage that I struggled to keep up! I swear I was as exhausted as the dancers when the interval came.
The score is instantly recognisable and deadly serious. Bourne says it was the score that attracted him to the story in the first place, 26 years ago. He wanted to use the music to tell a different story – a ‘dance thriller’, full of plot twists and suspense.
There are moments of humour alongside the darker scenes, which gives the production some much-needed lightness and even the whoops and cheers from the characters provide moments of relief.
I also really enjoyed the set and costumes. They help create that 1960s small-town atmosphere. There is always something happening, whether it’s a passionate encounter, a tense confrontation or a group scene full of energy.
What really impressed me was how accessible it felt. You don’t need to be a ballet expert to enjoy The Car Man. The storytelling is clear, the characters are memorable and the emotions come across incredibly strongly.
Overall, I absolutely loved it. It was dramatic, sexy, energetic and at times quite shocking, with fabulous dancing of course. If you enjoy a story filled with passion, jealousy, desire and a bit of danger, I’d recommend giving The Car Man a try.
Five stars from me — especially for the dancing, the drama and all that deliciously steamy chemistry!