Fasten your seat belts as Sir Matthew Bourne’s award-winning dance thriller The Car Man comes to Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre from 16th to 19th September 2026! Loosely based on Bizet’s ever-popular opera Carmen, this thrilling production features one of the most passionate and instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures’ repertoire, composed by Terry Davies and featuring Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite. Set in a greasy 1950s garage-diner in the American Mid-West, the dreams and passions of a small town are shattered by the arrival of a handsome, enigmatic stranger, driving the inhabitants into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal, and revenge.
Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man Dates & Performance Schedule
Performance dates and showtimes for the production at Mayflower Theatre:
- Run Dates: Wednesday 16th September – Saturday 19th September 2026.
- Evening Performances: Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM.
- Matinee Performances: Thursday and Saturday at 2:00 PM.
- Running Time: Approximately 2 hours including one interval.
Show Highlights & Production Details
Production features, musical arrangements, and content guidance:
- Award-Winning Dance Thriller: Created and directed by Sir Matthew Bourne for New Adventures, setting Bizet’s classic Carmen score in 1950s small-town America.
- Orchestral Score: Features Terry Davies’ arrangement of Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite alongside Bizet’s iconic operatic melodies.
- Age & Content Guidance: Recommended for audiences aged 15+. Children under 2 years old are not permitted into the auditorium.
- Production Warnings: Includes strobe lighting, flashing lights, smoke, haze, tobacco depiction, adult scenes of a sexual nature (including sexual assault), depictions of violence, fake blood, brief male nudity, loud music, and gunshot sound effects.
- Assisted Performances: Visual guides and accessible performance options are available directly through the venue.
Ticket Information & Box Office Savings
Pricing tiers and multi-show package discounts for Mayflower Theatre:
- Standard Pricing: Tickets start from £26.50 per person.
- Double Bourne Savings Offer: Save 25% per ticket on The Car Man when booking tickets for both Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella and The Car Man in the same transaction.
- Direct Booking: Reserve seats online via the official Mayflower Theatre box office.
How to Get to Mayflower Theatre
Travel options to reach Mayflower Theatre at 22-26 Commercial Road, Southampton (SO15 1GE):
- By Rail: Southampton Central Railway Station is located less than a 5-minute walk from the venue. Take the North Exit (Blechynden Terrace) and head uphill along Commercial Road.
- By Bus: City centre bus routes stop directly outside or near Commercial Road, with key hubs at Westquay and Southampton Central Station.
- By Car: Easily accessible from the M27 (Junction 3) and M3 (Junction 14), following signage into Southampton City Centre towards the cultural quarter.
Mayflower Theatre Parking Information
Parking facilities near Commercial Road:
- Grosvenor Square Car Park: Multi-storey parking located on Grosvenor Square (SO15 2BE), a short walk to the theatre entrance.
- West Park Multi-Storey: Located on West Park Road (SO15 1FZ), directly opposite the theatre ground.
- Disabled Parking: On-street Blue Badge parking bays are positioned along Commercial Road and West Park Road on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Looking for more exciting things happening across the region? Check out our complete list of What’s On in Southampton to discover theatre performances, dance productions, live shows, and local entertainment near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man at Mayflower Theatre?
- The show runs from Wednesday 16th September to Saturday 19th September 2026, with evening performances at 7:30 PM and matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 2:00 PM.
- Where is Mayflower Theatre located?
- Mayflower Theatre is located at 22-26 Commercial Road, Southampton (SO15 1GE).
- How much are tickets for The Car Man?
- Ticket prices start from £26.50 per person.
- Is there a special ticket discount available?
- Yes, you can save 25% per ticket on The Car Man when booking tickets for both Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella and The Car Man together in the same transaction.
- What is the recommended age advice and content guidance?
- The production is recommended for ages 15+. Children under 2 are not permitted. The show includes strobe lighting, flashing lights, smoke, haze, tobacco depiction, adult scenes of a sexual nature (including sexual assault), depictions of violence, fake blood, brief male nudity, loud music, and gunshot sound effects.
- How long is the show?
- The running time is approximately 2 hours including one interval.