The automobile has made its way into the very heart of Australian culture, becoming an essential part of life, from distant roads of the outback to the crowded downtowns. But beyond their practical purpose, automobiles have also found a surprising home: it was also on that stage.
This article will focus on the relationship and connection between cars and theatre, particularly in productions staged in Australia.
We’ll see how these fascinating machines move beyond simple objects and become symbols, agents of plots, characters, and even influences on the overall staging.
Cars as Symbols
Cars are an effective symbol that playwrights can employ for meaning in their shows. Here are some of the common symbolic meanings cars can hold in a play:
Freedom and Escape
Cars symbolize liberty from restrictions and the discovery of new horizons. The use of roads and particularly the open road can represent the notion of the character’s transformation or their search for a way out from a given position.
Danger and Destruction
Cars can also be used symbolically in a negative context as elements that pose a threat to human lives. A car crash can be an example of choosing an object to symbolize an abrupt change of the life of one of the characters.
Social Status
Cars often symbolize the social status of a character within the context of a play. While a well-equipped car may be associated with high income and standards, a wreck for example may mean either a poor background or a simple person with none of the luxuries.
Types of Car Used in a Play
The type of car used in a play can add significantly to the symbolism:
Vintage Cars
These can also serve as reminders and bring a glimpse of the past that we never knew existed. They could symbolize nostalgia that a character feeling for a certain period of time in their life, or they could be related to their ancestry.
Luxury Cars
These are usually topped with the attributes of wealth, status, and success. Driving a car may reflect something about the character of the driver; a man or woman driving a limousine might be thought of as powerful and influential as a man or woman driving a flashy sports car may be seen as an ambitious youth.
Beat-up Cars
These can be used to represent aspects like poverty, neglect, or a character who simply finds himself on the wrong side. This may also be interpreted as a car that has been beaten up, a character who has a character of a car that is in use, but it has been through a lot.
If you are a playwright and you are currently searching for a car for your next production you should think about what kind of symbolism you wish to consider. After that, you can simply opt for a car that qualifies for that meaning.
When searching for various types of vehicles, especially vintage and classic cars, as well as muscle cars, it may be wise to start your search with Dyler.
Notable Australian Production
Australian theatre companies have recognized the possibilities of the car and have incorporated the device into dramatic and engaging performances. Here is an example:
Sydney Theatre Company (STC)
Sydney Theatre Company is among the most experimental theatrical groups known for creating atmospheric performances. One of their famous pieces includes – The Long Way Home, a play that seeks to address issues relating to Australian soldiers who are in Afghanistan.
This play effectively incorporates soundscapes to go beyond the mere representation of certain settings and convey emotions as well. The audience is shifted from the emptiness of an Afghan desert through the scratch of metal and the sound of tanks, which depict a war-stricken place.
The soundscapes of these cars and military vehicles enhanced the realism in portraying war and its consequences which helped in telling the story. This approach helped to anchor the story in a real world that people could relate to and made it easier for the audience to instantly get involved in the characters’ lives.
Conclusion
The correlation of cars and theatre in Australian productions presents an interesting point that seems to make the automobile more than just a mode of transport but an element of dramatic action.
Shows and plays such as the ones that are presented by the Sydney Theatre Company are a good example of how cars are not only props but rather parts of the production, which play a significant role in the production’s development as well as the feeling that the play is telling its audience.
As playwrights continue to investigate this interesting connection, cars shall continue to be an essential part of the Australian stage and the work adding value and depth to the theatrical performances.