About the work
Matthew Bourne's The Car Man is a dance production by British choreographer Matthew Bourne. It previewed for the first time on Tuesday, May 16, 2000, at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth, England, and was subsequently staged at the Old Vic in London in September of that year.
The music for the production is based on Carmen Suite, Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin's Bolshoi Ballet version of Bizet's 1875 opera, with additional music by composer Terry Davies. However, the story differs completely from the plot of the opera. The ballet is known for its frank depictions of violence and sex, including homoeroticism.
The Car Man is one of Bourne's most popular works and generally has been acclaimed. Critics comments include "full of dramatic and choreographic juice", "sizzling and fizzing with lust", and "a fast-moving thriller that contains all the elements of a film noir".
More ballets by the composer
All ballets by Georges Bizet (4) →
Credits from Wikidata (Q3520202), CC0.