Themes
There are many major themes in the
play ‘Road’ I feel like one that is a big part of the play is poverty. I know
poverty is a theme because of many reasons like the character Scullery who
doesn’t have anywhere to stay and rummages through bins to try and find stuff
to sell so he can earn money ”Old tap 30p. Basket, a bob.” He also wore dirty
clothing and would get drunk a lot of the time. I feel like this fits in with
the theme poverty because most people when they’re unhappy in some way drink
they’re problems away and poverty is a massive problem. He would drink to see
the better side of it, for example he lived on the streets so he would describe
what a great view the road was to him when actually it was just a dirty old
road with bins, rubbish bags, bottles, fag buts and maybe a pile of sick on the
ground. They lived in poverty because during this time which was the 1980’s
Margret Thatcher closed down the coal mines which meant 1,000 of people lost
their jobs. I will use this research in the play to show through my character
Doreen that she hates. She hates, the state she lives in and is tired of going
out drinking every night. I know this because of what Doreen says in scenes for
example in the scene with her and Lane when they’re talking about staying out
drinking longer and Doreen says “I don’t fancy it” but Lane wants to. In my
opinion this does show that Doreen is getting sick of going out drinking all
the time otherwise she would have said yes and they would have continued
drinking because why would you stop unless you had too? 
Another theme is sex I consider sex
to be a major scene because in the play characters use it as a tool and it’s
mentioned a lot. It’s also used for the women to just get some attention
because most of them are single and just want to feel loved. For example Helen
who invites Kurt the drunken sailor to her place and then starts flirting with
him even though he’s basically out of it. She doesn’t do this because she a bad
person she just wants to feel loved and get some attention from a guy who’s new
to the road. I also feel like sex and music can be linked as a theme because
the music is what helped people enjoy themselves more. Their music in the 1980’s
also spoke a lot about sex and would influence it. The popular music was pop
and hip-hop and would help you to loosen up. I will use this research in the
play for my character Doreen for when she starts to get drunk and after she’s
come back from the pubs. I’d do this by showing it through her actions and
gestures so showing she’s a bit more loosely after going to the pub, having a
few drinks and a good time. In order to show this I’d start by walking all over
the play so not in a straight line and laugh more because when people are drunk
they do have a good laugh because the drink and music allows them to have a
better time and enjoy themselves more. It will also be used in the last scene
with Carol, Louise, Eddie and Brink. Near the end of their scene there will be
music played to show that Eddie and Brink are going to liven things up a bit.
During the time the music is playing you will see the characters start to get
looser and looser and they continue to dance and listen to the music. 
Social was another big theme when
it comes to ‘Road’ because everyone on the road knew each other and everything
about each other. Most of the characters have lived on the road are there due
to not being able to afford to go anywhere else. For example the professor who wrote
books before we lost everything. “I lost my wife, my family, half my stomach, everything.”
This was because he wanted to do a study on road and “go down in history” but
it didn’t go as planned. He now sales he’s books “for the price of a pint or
chips” due to being so short on money. In 1980’s Margret Thatcher introduced
poll tax which made many individuals income so low that like the professor they
would do any small job just to get money. During to this and when Margret closed
down the mines it meant everyone was doing whatever they could to get some
money. There was a massive queue outside the job centres as everyone was trying
to get some money to help them get by due to 1,000 of people losing their jobs.
Characters like Brenda would even flirt
with other characters just so she could get a fiver. I will use this research
for my character Doreen by showing her not taking money for granted and to show
that she doesn’t have a lot of money. In order to show this for her costume I’ll
wear plain clothing’s because if you didn’t have a lot of money back then you
wouldn’t of been able to buy fancy fabrics like lace or one with a pattern on
it. I wouldn’t talk about it though because although it was a difficult time
for those without jobs, after a while you would have excepted it and made do
with what you have. 