A TALE of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge has sped into the North West starring a dancer from Bury.

Dance thriller The Car Man, by choreographer and director Matthew Bourne, is on at The Lowry, Salford Quays, until Saturday.

The passionate and evocative show, on its first tour in eight years, stars Layton Williams — the original Billy Elliot in the West End.

Layton, aged 20, who attended Broad Oak Sports College in Bury, said: "We're pretty much well into it.

"It's really good, I'm really enjoying it.

"It's loosely based on a story called The Postman Always Rings Twice and it uses some music from Carmen, the opera.

"I play a couple of roles which is really nice.

"It keeps it fresh and we all rotate."

In a greasy garage-diner in 1960s America, 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.

First seen in 2000, New Adventures’ multi award-winning The Car Man was last revised in 2007.

Loosely based on Bizet’s popular opera, The Car Man has one of the most thrilling and instantly recognisable scores in the dance company's repertory.

Layton, who will be performing in the ensemble as one of the inhabitants of the fateful small town of Harmony USA, said: "Bristol gave us a standing ovation last week.

"I don't think it's for kids because it can be quite graphic.

"Anyone over the age of 12.

"If you are interested in dance and have never tried it before, this is a good one to start on."

Layton was aged 10 when he started dancing, attending Carol Godby Theatre Workshop in Bury, before leaving home at 11 to attend theatre and dance school in London.

He said: "Because I loved what I was doing, I didn't really mind too much.

"I knew I was in the right place."

He played the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre from February 2007 to November 2008 and is the second-longest running Billy in the show's history.

He said: "Looking back, it feels like a very different life.

"I just got on with it.

"It was the right thing at the right time.

"I'm very happy and very lucky that that started me out."

Layton says he is delighted to be working with Matthew, widely hailed as the UK's most popular and successful choreographer and director.

Layton, who has filmed a role for the forthcoming The Bad Education Movie with comedian Jack Whitehall, said: "He is here every day.

"He is on the ball, he isn't one of those directors that directs and then goes away.

"It is a bit intense but I enjoy it. I would rather a director be like that."

Matthew, who celebrated 25 years of creating and directing dance for musicals, opera, theatre, film in 2012, said: “The return of The Car Man is always an exciting time for the New Adventures Company.

"It is probably the most popular of our shows amongst the dancers, who relish the chance to visit this dark and gritty world, so different from many of our other productions.

"On a personal note, it is also a wonderful opportunity to re-watch many of the dozens of movie classics that inspired the creation of this piece and to

introduce these to our young company.

"The Car Man has always been a training ground for the finest New Adventures actor/dancers and I look forward to helping our next generation meet the challenges of this most dramatic of productions.”

The Car Man is on at The Lowry until Saturday and is suitable for ages 12 plus.

To book, call the box office on 0843 208 6000 or visit thelowry.com.