Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man is coming to Curve Leicester this month

Venue: Curve Leicester
Dates: 15–20 June 2026
Location: Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1SB
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, including a 25-minute interval
Age Guidance: 12+
Tickets: Available online via Curve Leicester
Special Event: Free post-show discussion with Matthew Bourne on Wednesday 17 June
Accessibility: BSL interpreted discussion and Audio Described performance on Friday 19 June

Quick Facts

• Award-winning dance thriller by Matthew Bourne
• Inspired by Bizet’s classic opera Carmen
• Set in a 1950s American garage-diner
• Features music by Terry Davies and Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suites
• Contains scenes of a sexual nature, brief nudity, smoking, strobe lighting and gunshots

Where to Watch Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man

If you’re wondering where to watch Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man in the UK, audiences can experience this acclaimed dance production at Curve Leicester from 15–20 June 2026. Tickets are available directly through Curve’s official website. The production forms part of the latest UK tour of one of New Adventures’ most celebrated works. Ticket discounts are also available for students, young people, groups and loyalty pass holders. Information on booking fees and availability can be found on the venue website.

What is The Car Man About?

Matthew Bourne’s award-winning THE CAR MAN is back, bringing its signature mix of cinematic storytelling, intense drama and breathtaking dance to the stage.

Loosely based on Bizet’s ever-popular opera Carmen, The Car Man transforms the familiar tale into a gripping dance thriller. The traditional 19th-century Spanish cigarette factory is reimagined as a dusty 1950s garage-diner in the American Midwest, where passions run high and dangerous secrets simmer beneath the surface.

The arrival of a handsome and enigmatic stranger changes everything. Fuelled by heat and desire, the inhabitants of this small town are swept into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.

Matthew Bourne’s vivid storytelling combines with one of the most passionately dramatic scores ever written, featuring music by Terry Davies and Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suites (after Bizet’s Carmen), creating a theatrical experience unlike any other.

The Car Man is a dance thriller that truly ignites the senses and leaves audiences breathless.

Where is The Car Man Playing in Leicester?

Audiences can watch The Car Man at Curve Theatre in Leicester. The production runs from Monday 15 June to Saturday 20 June 2026, with evening and selected matinee performances throughout the week. The theatre is located on Rutland Street in Leicester city centre and is one of the UK’s leading producing theatres.

Performance dates include:

• Monday 15 June – 7:30pm
• Tuesday 16 June – 7:30pm
• Wednesday 17 June – 7:30pm
• Thursday 18 June – 2:15pm and 7:30pm
• Friday 19 June – 7:30pm (Audio Described)
• Saturday 20 June – 2:15pm and 7:30pm

Ticket Information

Tickets for The Car Man can be purchased directly through Curve Leicester. The venue offers various discounts, including:

• £25 tickets for under 16s
• £25 tickets for students and ages 16–26 with eligible passes
• Group discounts for parties of six or more
• Savings for Loyalty Pass holders and Supporters Scheme members

Availability varies by performance, and all bookings are subject to a small booking fee.

Special Event: In Conversation with Matthew Bourne

The Wednesday 17 June performance includes a free post-show discussion with Director and Choreographer Matthew Bourne, hosted by Mel Knott, Senior Lecturer in Community Dance Practice at De Montfort University.

The discussion begins after a short 10-minute break following the performance.

Event details:

• Approximate running time: 15–20 minutes
• British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation by Stacey Green

This special event offers audiences an exclusive opportunity to hear directly from one of Britain’s most celebrated choreographers.

Age Guidance and Content Warnings

Before booking, audiences should note the following guidance:

• Recommended age: 12+
• Running time: 2 hours and 5 minutes, including a 25-minute interval
• Contains scenes of a sexual nature
• Brief nudity
• Smoking
• Strobe lighting
• Gunshots

Parents and guardians may wish to consider these themes before attending with younger viewers.

Why You Should See The Car Man

Few productions combine dance, drama and cinematic storytelling as effectively as The Car Man. Matthew Bourne’s reinvention of classic stories has earned worldwide acclaim, and this production remains one of his boldest and most unforgettable creations.

Whether you are a devoted dance fan or discovering Bourne’s work for the first time, The Car Man at Curve Leicester promises an electrifying evening of passion, suspense and extraordinary theatrical artistry.

Book early to secure the best seats for one of the most anticipated dance productions of 2026.