Theatrical exploration of the car at Warwick Arts Centre

509 Arts’ My Last Car is about the story of the motor car and all it means to us, while concerns about the planet could soon mean the end of its era.

The internal combustion engine is a relic of the 20th century, but our need for personal transport has had a harsh consequence on the earth’s resources.

My Last Car is both a free art installation and a theatre event that features stories submitted to the project from real people.

The piece takes viewers on a telling journey of discovery, memory and love, with stories of near misses, breakdowns, green lights and giving way.

The star of the performance installation is a soft-top Rover 216 Cabriolet, which has been broken down into its component parts, leaving just the shell of a ‘ghost car’.

With Coventry being the birthplace of the motor industry, the arts centre is a fitting venue to host a creative project of this nature.

Written by Sarah Woods, the work also features commissioned video and motor soundscape by digital artist Shanaz Gulzar.

Director Al Dix said: “My teenage years were spent playing around with and fixing up cars.

“The beauty of their engineering has never ceased to amaze me and cars have been a significant influence for most of my life.

“For a long time, I couldn’t imagine living without a car but now I have to take such a prospect seriously. We are at the end of the era of the motor car and My Last Car unravels the complexity of the emotions that this raises for many of us.”

The theatre performances are on from Tuesday October 4 until Saturday October 8 at 7.45pm, with Wednesday and Thursday matinees at 1.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2pm. Tickets cost £9.50 (concessions £7.50).

The art installations are on from Saturday October 1 to Monday October 3 from 2pm to 6pm and from Tuesday October 4 to Saturday October 8 inbetween performances from 10.30am to 6pm. Entry is free.

To book tickets for the theatre performances or to find out more, call 024 7652 4524 or go online.