Matthew Bourne’s award-winning dance thriller, The Car Man, returns for a 2026 UK tour, stopping off at Mayflower Theatre from Wednesday 16 to Saturday 19 September 2026.
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 19th century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy 1950s 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.
The title role of the magnetic Luca, The Car Man, will be played by Will Bozier and Harrison Dowzell, both former lead Swans in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, alongside New Adventures’ much-loved stars, Cordelia Braithwaite and Ashley Shaw as the alluring Lana. Rising stars, Leonardo McCorkindale and Harry Ondrak-Wright play the troubled misfit, Angelo, whilst Anna Maria de Freitas with Kurumi Kamayachi make their leading role debuts as Lana’s devoted sister, Rita. Danny Reubens andthe original “Car Man” himself, Alan Vincent will portray Lana’s jealous husband, Dino.
Joining them as the other inhabitants of the USA town of Harmony are Jack Frame, Serena McCall, Rae Miller, Jack Widdowson and Karishma Young, who all make their New Adventures debuts in the production, alongside returning New Adventures performers, Tanisha Addicott, Jamie Duncan-Campbell, Cameron Flynn, Rory Macleod, Callum Mann, Eleanor McGrath, Jarrod McWilliams, Eve Ngbokota, Nikolas Shikkis, Xavier Andriambolanoro-Sotiyaand Lyra Treglown.
“As we announce a thrilling new 2026 cast for our dance thriller, The Car Man, it’s interesting to reflect on how iconic, unique and sought after the leading roles in this show have become since it was made in 2000,” Matthew Bourne said. “We are still the only company in the world to perform this production and yet the roles of Luca, Lana, Angelo, Rita and Dino have become as legendary as the show itself and a unique part of the UK dance landscape for several generations of young dancers.
“I’m proud that New Adventures never just revives a show; we re-invent, question and grow with each new cast which is why I’m so excited to revisit the small town of Harmony this summer and, much like Luca himself, shake things up a bit!”
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.
Tickets for Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man (Wednesday 16 – Saturday 19 September 2026) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
- In Common is not for profit. We rely on donations from readers to keep the site running. Could you help to support us for as little as 25p a week? Please help us to carry on offering independent grass roots media. Visit: https://www.patreon.com/incommonsoton