First seen in 2000, The Car Man is a signature production for internationally acclaimed choreographer, Matthew Bourne. The stage show has been a smash-hit in the UK and around the world and this recording for Sky Arts was made at Sadler’s Wells during the show’s 2015 revival.
Loosely based on Bizet’s popular opera, Carmen, the familiar 19th Century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy 1960s garage-diner in the American mid-west where the dreams and passions of a small town are shattered by the arrival of a handsome stranger. Fuelled by heat and desire, the townsfolk are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.
Lez Brotherston’s epic set design and Chris Davey’s meticulously zoned lighting perfectly complement Matthew Bourne’s vivid choreographic storytelling, which reveals influences of noir cinema, principally the various versions of James M. Cain’s The Postman Always Rings Twice.
Extras:The Making of The Car Man (17 minutes) features interviews with leading dancers Zizi Strallen, Chris Trenfield, Dominic North and Kate Lyons in addition to composer Terry Davies and New Adventures’ founder, Matthew Bourne.
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Cast
Luca, the Car Man: Chris Trenfield
Lana: Zizi Strallen
Angelo: Dominic North
Dino: Alan Vincent
Rita: Kate Lyons
Picture: 16:9
Region code: All Regions
Format: NTSC
Subtitles: EN
Sound: 5.1 surround sound / 2.0 stereo
Duration: 115 mins
Year: 2015
Reviews: "Superb, witty, drop-dead-sexy" Daily Telegraph
"Gripping. Explosive. Erotic" Mail on Sunday
"Glamorous, sexy, funny and dangerous. A triumph!" Evening Standard
"It’s dance theatre at its most powerful and passionate" Culturefly
Awards: Evening Standard Awards 2000: Winner - Musical Event of the Year
Olivier Awards 2000: Nominated - Outstanding Achievement in Dance
National Dance Awards 2015: Winner - Outstanding Female Dancer (Modern) Award (Zizi Strallen, for her role as Lana)