The Car Man & Hot Mess

The Car Man & Hot Mess

August 13, 2026 · 36 min · Season 6 · Episode 38

About this episode

This episode reviews two shows, The Car Man and Hot Mess, focusing on their themes of relationships gone awry.

This episode, we're reviewing two wildly different shows with one thing very much in common: relationships heading spectacularly off the rails. Natalie and Darren experience Matthew Bourne's seductive dance thriller  The Car Man , while  Hot Mess  turns the entire relationship between Earth and Humanity into one brilliantly funny, pop-fuelled musical romcom. The Car Man Matthew Bourne's  The Car Man  roars back onto the stage with its intoxicating mix of dance, desire, jealousy and murder. Loosely inspired by Bizet's  Carmen , Bourne relocates the action to a hot and claustrophobic 1960s American town, where the arrival of handsome stranger Luca sends passions spiralling dangerously out of control. Ashley Shaw is electric as femme fatale Lana, opposite Will Bozier as her doomed lover Luca, leading an exceptionally talented New Adventures ensemble through Bourne's unmistakable blend of cinematic storytelling and thrilling choreography. Darren and Natalie discuss the extraordinary chemistry of the company, the production's sensuality and how Bourne takes the familiar DNA of  Carmen  and transforms it into something entirely his own. Dark…

People in this episode

Hosts: Natalie Maher, Darren Murphy

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Adventures, 42 Balloons

Books & works: The Car Man, Hot Mess, Carmen

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