"Vår drivkraft" Explores Youth Car Culture with Lively, Fragmented Performance

The Swedish production "Vår drivkraft" (Our Driving Force) delves into the heart of motor culture, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of "epa-kultur," a youth car culture prevalent in Sweden. The play uses actual vehicles, including a pink-adorned car, as integral parts of its stage design, immersing the audience in the world of automotive enthusiasm.

The performance is noted for its energetic approach, transforming a motor meet into a theatrical event where cars serve as the primary stage. A central element is a "mechanic's duet" performed by Emil Grudemo El Hayek and Jonathan Starr, who engage the audience with songs like "Leende guldbruna ögon" and "Blue Hawaii," accompanied by car parts. This creates a playful, though not overtly erotic, sense of closeness among the attendees.

"Vår drivkraft" is presented in Skellefteå, a town that has experienced population decline. The premiere of a show celebrating fossil-fuel-driven motor culture in this context introduces a subtle, unaddressed tension. The production's form is reminiscent of earlier collaborations by Tove Berglund and Ludvig Daae, known for their unique settings like a caravan park.

While the production is lauded for its deep dive into motor culture and the engaging use of cars as a theatrical device, it is also characterized as being "lively but fragmented." The physical presence of the vehicles significantly enhances the audience's understanding of the "epa-kultur" phenomenon, making it a compelling, albeit somewhat disjointed, exploration.

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Take the car, please!