This is London Magazine July Edition 2026 - Flipbook - Page 14
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MATTHEW BOURNE’S LEGENDARY
THE CAR MAN AT SADLER’S WELLS
Matthew Bourne’s award-winning
dance thriller The Car Man is playing a
5-week summer season at Sadler’s Wells
this summer. Loosely based on Bizet’s
ever-popular opera, The Car Man has one
of the most thrilling and instantly
recognisable scores in New Adventures’
repertoire. The familiar 19th Century
Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy
1950’s garage-diner in the American MidWest where the dreams and passions of a
small-town are shattered by the arrival of a
handsome and enigmatic stranger. Fuelled
by heat and desire, the inhabitants are
driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed,
lust, betrayal and revenge.
Matthew Bourne said: ‘I never dreamed
when we created this show at the
beginning of the new millennium that it
would still be around, thrilling audiences,
25 years later! Inspired by vintage movie
film noir classics, it holds a unique and
special place in the New Adventures
repertory as the only piece based on an
opera and possibly the first ballet to feature
a bi-sexual anti-hero! I’m particularly
happy that we are taking the show ‘on the
road’ again after more than 10 years.’
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 was last seen in a unique
revival for The Royal Albert Hall’s 150th
Birthday in 2022. www.sadlerswells.com
BBC PROMS 2026
The BBC Proms returns for another
summer of world-class classical music,
bringing together internationally
acclaimed orchestras, soloists and
conductors for an inspiring season of
performances at London's Royal Albert
Hall and venues across the UK.
Running throughout the summer, the
festival continues its long-standing
tradition of making classical music
accessible to everyone, with an ambitious
programme that spans beloved
masterpieces, contemporary works and
exciting premieres. Audiences can expect
performances from leading UK orchestras
alongside renowned international
ensembles, with appearances from some
of the world's most celebrated musicians.
As ever, the season offers something
for every musical taste. From powerful
symphonies by Beethoven, Mahler and
Tchaikovsky to film music, choral
spectaculars, chamber concerts and
family-friendly events, the Proms
celebrates the breadth and diversity of
classical music.
New commissions and world
premieres also play a central role,
highlighting emerging composers while
showcasing innovative approaches to
orchestral performance.
The festival's famous Promming
tradition remains at the heart of the
experience, allowing audiences to enjoy
concerts from the arena at affordable
prices. Many performances are also
broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and BBC
Sounds, with selected concerts televised
on BBC channels and available on BBC
iPlayer, enabling millions of people to
experience the festival wherever they are.
The season culminates with the muchanticipated Last Night of the Proms, one
of Britain's best-loved musical
celebrations. Combining patriotic
favourites with outstanding orchestral
performances and a festive atmosphere,
the concert provides a fitting finale to
another remarkable Proms season,
reinforcing the festival's reputation as one
of the world's greatest celebrations of
classical music and its enduring ability to
bring audiences together through live
performance.
For full listings and tickets, visit the
website at www.bbc.co.uk/proms
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