Matthew Bourne's The Car Man

Matthew Bourne's The Car Man tickets in Glasgow

Matthew Bourne's The Car Man is a dance thriller from New Adventures that transplants the world of Bizet's Carmen to a sweltering 1950s American Mid-West garage-diner. Music by Terry Davies features Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite (after Bizet's Carmen), and the production carries a recommended age of 15+.

The story and its setting

In place of Bizet's 19th-century Spanish cigarette factory, the action moves to a greasy garage-diner where a small town's frustrated dreams are upended by the arrival of a handsome and enigmatic stranger. Heat and desire push the inhabitants into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.

The storytelling is entirely through dance rather than song or dialogue, with Shchedrin's reworking of Bizet's score providing the score's propulsive energy. Audiences should expect a purely physical performance language throughout.

Content guidance and running time

The recommended age is 15+. The production contains scenes of a sexual nature including sexual assault, brief frontal male nudity, smoking, strobe lighting, haze, gunshots and violent scenes involving blood. A Visual Guide is available for those who wish to prepare in advance.

The running time is 2 hours. The recommended age is not a legal admission restriction, but those responsible for younger teenagers should weigh the content carefully before booking.

Dates, venues and booking links

These are the dates listed by ATG as checked on 21 September 2026. A date range may contain selected performances, rather than a show every day. Open your chosen venue link for exact times, seats and current prices.

Choosing your tickets

Start with the venue and date that suit your trip, then compare the seats offered by ATG. Check the final total, any restricted-view information and the ticket conditions before paying. Availability and prices can change; the listed run dates do not guarantee seats for every performance.

ATG lists a running time of 2 hours. Confirm the performance time and any interval information when booking.

Plan your theatre visit

Our venue guides cover getting there, seating and access information: King's Theatre, Glasgow. If you need accessible seating or an assisted performance, check the arrangements for that venue and date with ATG before booking.

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