Marcelo Gomes Leads UK's THE CARMAN, Beginning Tonight at Sadler's Wells

New Adventures are delighted to announce that international ballet superstar, Marcelo Gomes will guest star as 'Luca', the title role in the internationally acclaimed and multi-award winning dance thriller "THE CAR MAN" during the four week summer season at Sadler's Wells from tonight 14 July to 9 August 2015.

He will alternate the role with the previously announced Jonathan Ollivier and Chris Trenfield; all three dancers worked together last year, sharing the role of 'The Swan' when Marcelo Gomes made his debut with New Adventures in the Tokyo Season of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake.

Matthew Bourne said:

"It is our great pleasure to welcome back Marcelo to New Adventures after his sensational debut as 'The Swan' last year in Tokyo. Working alongside Marcelo was an inspiring experience for our dancers, but it was his desire to grow as a dancer and transform himself into this role that so impressed me. Having "Guest Artists" is not generally part of the New Adventures ethos, but Marcelo quickly made himself a popular part of the New Adventures family, so when he expressed an interest in The Car Man it seemed like a wonderful and artistically exciting idea to invite him back to the company to perform for our audiences for the first time in London at Sadler's Wells. I'm greatly looking forward to the charisma and power that Marcelo will bring to the role of Luca and The Car Man."

Marcelo Gomes said:

"Working with Matthew and the artists at New Adventures last year on his Swan Lake was an experience and role of a lifetime. I was able to grow as an artist and challenge myself in ways that I did not think possible. I hope that in The Car Man I'm able to achieve the same, and honour this sensual and highly emotional work. I'm excited to continue what I hope will be an ongoing professional relationship with Matthew, and am so looking forward to meeting and working with this new and incredibly talented cast."

Brazilian born, Marcelo Gomes joined the American Ballet Theatre in 1997, becoming a Principal in 2002. He has performed in virtually every full-length ballet in the company's repertoire; appeared in many international dance festivals and been a guest artist with, amongst others, the Bolshoi Ballet, the New York City Ballet and Teatro Colon. In 2008 he was awarded the prestigious Prix Benois de la Dance award in Moscow. He has recently begun a successful choreographic career and has created pieces for American Ballet Theatre, La Scala and Kings of Dance. He most recently guest starred as 'The Swan' in Matthew Bourne's "Swan Lake" in Japan.

First seen in 2000, "THE CAR MAN" won the Evening Standard Award for 'Musical Event of the Year' and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for 'Best Choreography'. This revival marks the first time the production has been staged in eight years.

Loosely based on Bizet's popular opera; it 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. Inspired by classic European and American Film Noir cinema and the Pulp Fiction novels of James M. Cain and Raymond Chandler; Lez Brotherston's epic design, Chris Davey's evocative lighting and Matthew Bourne's vivid storytelling, create a dangerous and uncompromising vision of small-town America.

"THE CAR MAN" follows the phenomenal world-wide success of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker!, Cinderella and Edward Scissorhands; from the UK's most popular dance theatre company.

"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.

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