A dance thriller telling the story of a 1960's small American town where dreams and passions are shattered by the arrival of a handsome stranger is coming to Wimbledon this month.

Matthew Bourne's The Car Man, loosely based on George Bizet's 19th century opera Carmen, was first staged in 2000 and won the Evening Standard Award for Musical Event of the Year.

The Spanish cigarette factory in Bizet's opera becomes a greasy garage-diner in Bourne's show, where the inhabitants are driven by heat and desire into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.

Louisa Clarence-Smith catches up with leading lady Zizi Strallen, 24, in between rehearsals.

LCS: Why did you want to get involved in the show?

ZS: Personally I think it's Matthew Bourne's [who also choreographed acclaimed performers of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella] most gritty piece. There's lots of drama so for me that was the attraction for it and it's so beautifully choreographed.

LCS: Tell us about your character in the show.

ZS: I play two roles - a role called Lana who’s one of the main protagonists of the show.

She’s married and her character goes on quite a big journey. She’s a cross between the familiar lead heroine and also the villain so it’s a very complex and interesting part to play.

I also play a part called Dolores who in the first act lives in a place called Harmony. They are actually similar. They are quite open with their sexuality.

LCS: How would you describe the music and dancing?

ZS: When I first heard the show there was a lot of music which I have never realised is from Car Man. The choreography is so well put together.

There’s an aggression with the male stuff and a lot of the women’s stuff is quite airy. It's really hot so a lot of our costumes are really light dresses which are beautiful to dance in.

LCS: How did you launch your performance career?

ZS: I come from a family of performers. My aunt is Bonnie Langford [who has starred in Eastenders and Doctor Who], my mother and father are both dancers and my nan owns a dance school.

Me and my three sisters all went to the school and then Arts Educational [in Chiswick].

Matthew Bourne's The Car Man; 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon; April 21 to 25, 7.30pm, mats Thurs and Sat, 2.30pm; £16.90 to £46.40; atgtickets.com.