Theatre Review: Matthew Bourne’s Car Man, Bristol Hippodrome
Rating: ★★★★
Running Dates: Tuesday 1st September 2026 - Saturday 5th September 2026
Where to see it: Bristol Hippodrome
Duration: 2 hours (incl. interval)
Photography by Johan Perrson
Review
If you like drama, dance, passion and unexpected twists, this is the performance for you!
Loosely based on Bizet’s ever-popular opera, The Car Man is a passionate and dramatic dance production set in 1950s America that tells a story of love, desire, jealousy and revenge. Combining powerful choreography, vivid storytelling and an emotionally charged score, the performance explores how ambition and attraction can lead individuals towards tragedy.
Matthew Bourne reimagines the classic tale in a 1950s American Midwestern setting, transforming it into what can only be described as a dance thriller. Set in a lonely garage-diner town, the production explores themes of passion, desire, jealousy, betrayal and revenge through powerful storytelling and expressive choreography.
Photography by Johan Perrson
The narrative is conveyed entirely through movement. There are no songs or spoken words, yet the dancers deliver such emotionally rich performances that every relationship and conflict feels intensely real. The chemistry between the central characters drives the drama forward, while the ensemble brings energy and tension to the wider community. I was on the edge of my seat for a large portion of the performance.
The set design perfectly captures the atmosphere of small-town America and combined with evocative lighting and period costumes, creates a vivid and immersive world. Finally, the brilliant score complements the action on stage beautifully, building from moments of tenderness to explosive confrontations.
Highly recommended!
Photography by Johan Perrson
Stand Out Quote or Moment: The realisation that the entire story is told through dance alone. Despite the absence of dialogue, every emotion, relationship and plot twist is communicated with remarkable clarity and intensity.
See If: You enjoy dance, drama, suspenseful storytelling, and performances that explore themes of love, desire and revenge.
Similar Musicals: Matthew Bourne’s Romeo & Juliet, West Side Story, Chicago, Moulin Rouge
Written by Sofia Krasteva
Disclaimer: These tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review