Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man Returns to Milton Keynes Theatre in 2026

Loosely inspired by Bizet’s much-loved opera, The Car Man features one of the most exhilarating and instantly recognisable scores in the New Adventures repertoire. The familiar 19th-century Spanish cigarette factory is reimagined as a gritty 1950s garage-diner in the American Midwest, where the dreams and desires of a small town are shattered by the arrival of a charismatic stranger. Fueled by heat and passion, the residents are propelled into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal, and revenge.

Matthew Bourne said:

“I never dreamed when we created this show at the beginning of the new millennium that it would still be around, thrilling audiences, 25 years later! Inspired by vintage movie film noir classics, it holds a unique and special place in the New Adventures repertory as the

only piece based on an opera and possibly the first ballet to feature a bisexual anti-hero! I’m particularly happy that we are taking the show “on the road” again after more than 10 years, and I can’t wait to revisit the hot and steamy town of Harmony USA – the best place to be next Summer!”

First premiered in 2000, The Car Man won the Evening Standard Award for Musical Event of the Year and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Choreography. It was last revived for The Royal Albert Hall’s 150th Anniversary in 2022, earning rave reviews and nightly standing ovations. The 2026 tour marks the first time the production has toured the UK since 2015.

Directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, The Car Man features music by Terry Davies and Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite (after Bizet’s Carmen), with sound design by Paul Groothuis, lighting by Chris Davey, and set and costume design by Lez Brotherston.

Performances at Milton Keynes Theatre run from Tuesday 7 – Saturday 11 July 2026. Tickets are on sale now.