Photo Flash: Matthew Bourne's THE CAR MAN Comes to Canterbury Tonight

Matthew Bourne's internationally-acclaimed and multi-award-winning dance thriller The Car Man comes to Canterbury tonight. Scroll down for a sneak peek!

The show's revival marks the first time the production has been staged in eight years. Loosely based on Bizet's popular opera: the familiar 19th Century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy garage-diner in 1960's America where the dreams and passions of a small-town are shattered by the arrival of a handsome stranger.

Fuelled by heat and desire, the inhabitants are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge. Inspired by classic European and American Film Noir cinema, and the Pulp Fiction novels of James M Cain and Raymond Chandler, Lez Brotherston's epic design, Chris Davey's evocative lighting and Bourne's vivid storytelling, create a dangerous and uncompromising vision of small-town America.

The Car Man has one of the most thrilling and instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures' repertory, featuring Schedrin's powerful Carmen Suite and new arrangements of Bizet's legendary score, by New Adventures Associate Artist, Terry Davies.

The leading characters created by Bourne for The Car Man are among his most challenging both physically and emotionally. For this revival a new generation of New Adventures' stars will be making their debuts in these iconic roles.

The title role of Luca (The Car Man), will be played by Jonathan Ollivier and Chris Trenfield, both recently acclaimed as The Swan in Bourne's Swan Lake. Lana will be danced by Ashley Shaw (who enjoyed great success as Kim in Edward Scissorhands) and Zizi Strallen, who joins direct from the West End production of Cats. She was last seen with New Adventures in Cinderella in 2011.

Rita, Lana's older sister, will be performed by Katy Lowenhoff (also Kim in Edward Scissorhands) and Kate Lyons (Bourne's Sleeping Beauty). The demanding role of Angelo will be shared by rising company star, Liam Mower, and one of New Adventures most popular leading men, Dominic North. Both received rave reviews for their moving performances as the title character in New Adventures' Edward Scissorhands.

The Car Man fans will be delighted to hear that the original Car Man, Alan Vincent, will be returning to the company to play Lana's violent husband, Dino.

The Car Man was first seen in 2000, winning the Evening Standard Award for Musical Event of the Year and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Choreography. It follows the phenomenal world-wide success of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker!, Cinderella and Edward Scissorhands.

The Car Man is at The Marlowe Theatre from today 2 to Saturday 6 June (7.30pm; Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm). Tickets, priced from £17 to £38 (concessions available; booking fee applies) are from the Box Office on 01227 787787 or marlowetheatre.com.

Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Need more UK Regional Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...