Matthew Bourne's award-winning dance thriller on its 2026 UK tour at the Festival Theatre, reimagining the 19th-century Spanish cigarette factory as a 1950s garage-diner.
Matthew Bourne's The Car Man comes to the Festival Theatre from 3 to 7 November, as part of the New Adventures 2026 UK tour. It's a dance thriller that takes Bizet's Carmen and moves it from a 19th-century Spanish cigarette factory to a greasy 1950s garage-diner in the American Mid-West. The story follows a handsome, enigmatic stranger who rolls into a small town and turns it upside down, driving the locals into a spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.
The production is built around one of New Adventures' most recognisable scores, by Terry Davies, which features Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite after Bizet's Carmen. It's a high-octane piece of choreography with a cinematic feel that pushes the boundaries of contemporary dance theatre. The Daily Mail called it 'gripping, gasp-making, edge of your seat stuff', while the Observer described it as 'a shatteringly good piece of storytelling'.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Edinburgh and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
It's a short run, with performances from Tuesday 3 November through to Saturday 7 November. Evenings start at 19:30, and there are matinees at 14:30. Tickets range from £29.50 to £76.00, and you'll find the Festival Theatre at 13/29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9FT.
