Witnessing Trauma in Simon Stephens’ Motortown

Abstract

Simon Stephens is one of the most
 important contemporary playwrights whose popularity spreads out both Britain
 and continental Europe. His Motortown
 (2006) consists of eight scenes. Having structural order and correlations with
 each other, these scenes depict notions of fear, violence, anxiety and
 traumatic experiences. The play’s protagonist, Danny, is a British soldier who
 is sent to Iraq for his military service and comes back home with his traumatic
 memories. Simon Stephens portrays a political play which discloses the
 tormenting process of Danny’s unsuccessful treatment back home. Stephens also
 depicts traumatic patterns and major trauma factors observed as the lack of
 family support and psychological disorders of contemporary British society,
 which are the disappointing results of war in Iraq. Applying the trauma theory
 and taking into consideration the effects of war, this study will illustrate
 Danny’s personal background and his traumatic experiences which become central
 among other characters in contemporary British culture.