The Car Man, one of Matthew Bourne’s most requested shows, speeds into Salford on its first tour in eight years, with Bury-born dancer and original Billy Elliott Layton Williams and Leon Moran from Chorlton.
First seen in 2000, New Adventures’ multi award-winning The Car Man was last revised in 2007. This revival will be the first time the production has been staged in eight years and will feature a new generation of New Adventures stars including Bury-born Layton Williams who was the original Billy Elliott; Leon Moran from Chorlton, Manchester; and Zizi Strallen who is the niece of dancer Bonnie Langford.
Bury-born Layton Williams, who attended Broad Oak Sports College, played the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London’s West End. Layton performed the role from February 2007 – November 2008 and is still the second-longest running performer as ‘Billy’ in the show’s history.
Layton, now aged 20, will be performing in the ensemble as one of the inhabitants of the fateful small town of Harmony USA, alongside fellow Mancunian Leon Moran from Chorlton. Leon, who has danced in some of New Adventures best-loved productions including Nutcracker! and Edward Scissorhands, was a pupil of Chorlton High School.
The title role of ‘Luca, The Car Man’, will be played by Johnathan Ollivier and Chris Trenfield – both recently acclaimed as ‘The Swan’ in Bourne’s Swan Lake. The role of ‘Lana’ will be danced by Zizi Strallen, niece of the dancer Bonnie Langford, who joinsThe Car Man direct from the West End production of Cats. Fans of The Car Man will be delighted to hear that the original ‘Car Man’, Alan Vincent will return to the company to play the role of Lana’s violent husband Dino.
Loosely based on Bizet’s popular opera; 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 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.
Matthew Bourne said:
“The return of The Car Man is always an exciting time for the New Adventures Company. It is probably the most popular of our shows amongst the dancers, who relish the chance to visit this dark and gritty world, so different from many of our other productions. On a personal note, it is also a wonderful opportunity to re-watch many of the dozens of movie classics that inspired the creation of this piece and to introduce these to our young company. The Car Man has always been a training ground for the finest New Adventures actor/dancers and I look forward to helping our next generation meet the challenges of this most dramatic of productions.”
The Car Man is directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, with music by Terry Davies & Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite (after Bizet’s Carmen); designs by Lez Brotherston; lighting by Chris Davey and sound by Paul Groothius. The project is supported by Arts Council England through the Grants for the Arts funding programme.
The Car Man
Times: 7:30pm, Wed, Thu & Sat 2pm
Tickets: £29 – £41 (includes £2 booking fee)
Concs £2 off selected performances
