Matthew Bourne's The Car Man returns to Sadler's Wells with all the heat, drama and dark glamour that has made it a modern dance-theatre classic. Loosely based on Bizet's Carmen, the production moves the story to a sweltering American diner and garage in the 1960s, swapping castanets for grease-stained overalls without losing any of the passion of the original.
The story follows Luca, a drifter who arrives in town and turns the lives of those around him upside down. He's soon caught up with Lana, who is unhappily married to Angelo (Harry Ondrak-Wright). What starts as lust quickly turns into betrayal, violence and consequences, as the secrets of a small town come to the surface. It's a story of temptation and what follows it, told entirely through movement, and it says a lot for Bourne's storytelling that the plot is never once hard to follow, despite there being no dialogue at all.
The show is sexy and sensual, full of beautiful choreography that moves between tenderness, tension and outright seduction. Bourne has a knack for turning small gestures — a shared cigarette, a look across a workshop — into moments loaded with meaning, and the piece builds steadily towards its darker turns without losing its sense of fun.
The central trio are all excellent. Will Bozier is magnetic as Luca, full of danger and charisma, while Ashley Shaw's Lana is sharp and sensual. Harry Ondrak-Wright brings real feeling to Angelo, and you feel for him as his story unfolds. The ensemble keeps pace with them, filling every scene with energy even when they're in the background.
The music is just as strong. Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite, itself a reworking of Bizet's original score, is topped up with original music by Terry Davies, all conducted by Benjamin Pope. The result feels both familiar and fresh, backing up the drama without ever taking over.
What's especially good is how well Bourne balances the darker moments with real humour — there are plenty of laughs along the way, which stops the show from feeling too heavy despite its tragic roots.
The Car Man is a slick, stylish and thoroughly entertaining piece of dance theatre. It is a bold, beautifully performed production that shows why Bourne is one of Britain's most inventive choreographers.
It runs until 29 August. Tickets: here.
Photos: Johan Persson