Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
Dominic Cooke
Dates Performed
Friday 21st April 2006
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Play Details
Synopsis
Post-Industrial England
Danny stands in the harsh glow of a stark room, freshly returned from the war in Iraq, his mind a tempest of unresolved trauma and aggression. Simon Stephens’ “Motortown” thrusts us into the disjointed and volatile psyche of a soldier struggling to reintegrate into civilian life. Set against the bleak backdrop of a post-industrial England, the play unfolds through a series of fragmented, visceral encounters that reveal the fractured state of Danny’s mind and the society he returns to.
The narrative follows Danny as he reconnects with his brother Lee and attempts to find his place in a world that seems indifferent to his sacrifice. His journey is marked by violent outbursts and unsettling interactions, from confronting his ex-girlfriend Marley to engaging with strangers who push him further towards the edge. Each scene, a stark vignette, delves deeper into the themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the dehumanizing effects of war. As Danny’s inner turmoil manifests in increasingly disturbing ways, Stephens paints a grim portrait of a man unraveling, lost in a landscape that mirrors his internal chaos.
Cast & Creative
Cast
Danny Mays
Cast
Ony Uhiara
Cast
Daniela Denby-Ashe
Cast
Tom Fisher
Cast
Richard Graham
Cast
Steve Hansell
Cast
Nick Sidi
Cast
Fenella Woolgar
Lighting
Jean Kalman
Sound
Ian Dickinson
Simon Stephens, the Olivier Award-winning playwright, discussed his gripping drama, Motortown, which explores the ‘moral chaos of England’. He spoke with Aleks Sierz about its complex themes and impact.
You may also like...
On the War
2022Oles Barleeg , Natalia Blok , Andrii Bondarenko , Oleksii Dorychevskyi , Julia Gonchar , Anastasiia Kosodii , Lena Lagushonkova , Olha Matsyupa , Oksana Savchenko , Liudmyla Tymoshenko
