The Car Man Tickets
Matthew Bourne's sizzling take on Bizet's Carmen, set in 1960s small-town USA, returns to London.
The Car Man in London
Buckle up at Sadler’s Wells, in the heart of Islington, as Matthew Bourne’s multi-award-winning The Car Man returns for a strictly limited run. Based on Bizet’s Carmen, The Car Man is a dance-thriller spectacular which transports the classic opera’s story to a grease-slicked garage and diner in small town USA. This red-hot dance show is “sizzling and fizzing with lust” (Telegraph), and makes for unmissable theatre - secure your tickets today.
What is the Dance show The Car Man about?
In a greasy 1960s diner, one small town’s dreams are torn apart when a handsome stranger arrives, and the townspeople soon descend into a frenzied spiral of greed, desire, backstabbing and revenge.
The History of Matthew Bourne's Car Man
Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man premiered in 2000 at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal and is one of his most distinctive and provocative dance-theatre productions. Loosely inspired by Bizet’s Carmen and drawing narrative influence from James M. Cain’s novel The Postman Always Rings Twice, it reimagines the action of the sultry opera in small-town America. With a moody adapted score, the show blends passion, betrayal, and murder in a gripping noir-style tale. Over the years, it has been revived multiple times, including a major production in 2015 and a film version released by Sky Arts in 2022. In 2000, the show won the Evening Standard Award for best “Musical Event” and was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award.
The Cast and Creative Team of The Car Man
The Car Man is performed by the company of New Adventures.
Direction and choreography are by acclaimed choreographer and New Adventures founder Matthew Bourne (Swan Lake, The Red Shoes), with a dramatic, cinematic score adapted and arranged by Terry Davies (Frankenstein, The Wind in the Willows) based on Bizet’s Carmen. The production also features set and costume design by Lez Brotherston (Sleeping Beauty, The Red Shoes), lighting by Chris Davey (Nutcracker!, Romeo and Juliet), and sound design by Paul Groothuis (Oliver!, Follies).
Tickets for The Car Man at Sadler’s Wells
This incredible production is Bizet’s Carmen as you’ve never seen it before. Allow yourself to be swept into the world of The Car Man, where romance and revenge collide. This award-winning show from dance titan Matthew Bourne is “gripping, gasp-making, edge of your seat stuff” (Daily Mail) and returns for a strictly limited run - don’t miss out, book your tickets for The Car Man at Sadler’s Wells today.
Last Minute Tickets
Find your perfect view and book cheap The Car Man tickets instantly with SeatPlan. Save up to 47% tonight.
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Please note this production contains scenes of a sexual nature, brief nudity, strobe lighting and gunshots.
The Car Man London Reviews
User Reviews
Show is excellent - highly recommended. Strange to watch an opera without singing LOL But only loosely based on Bizet's classic and set in 1950's US. Set design and lighting amazing. Music beautifully arranged. The dancing was obviously special. So g Read more
Fantastic cast of dancers. The leads in particular had incredible control and fluidity! I enjoyed seeing a slightly different kind of ballet, with its more modern American setting and costumes. The story does contain darker themes (eg. fight scenes a Read more
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are The Car Man tickets?
The Car Man tickets are priced from £15 to £119.
Where is The Car Man playing in London?
The Car Man is playing at the Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Ave, Islington, London, EC1R 4TN.
What is the age recommendation for The Car Man?
The Car Man is best for age 12+.
How long is The Car Man?
The running time for The Car Man at Sadler's Wells is 2 hours.
Is there an interval during The Car Man?
Yes, there is a 15 minute interval about halfway through The Car Man.
Can I buy tickets for The Car Man at the box office?
Yes you can buy from the Sadler's Wells box office where you will pay the face value ticket price, sometimes with a small booking fee. Search on SeatPlan to get the best prices and deals in one search including discounts not available at the box office.
What is the refund / cancellation policy?
Tickets for The Car Man are generally non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
SeatPlan works with multiple suppliers to find the best deal for you. Each supplier has their own refund and cancellation policy, which you can review on the payment page before you complete your purchase.
Loved the music and the dancing. The score has been updated and has a film soundtrack feel to it. I don’t know a lot about dance. But this was ballet-like but not the ‘full world’, which I liked. I was glad that I knew the storyline as I could otherw Read more