Trauma and depression in contemporary British theatre : a study in Sarah Kane's 4.48 psychosis

Abstract EN

This paper tackles the issue of using Contemporary British Theatre to express themes of Trauma and Depression dramatized in the final work of Sarah Kane's 4.48 Psychosis.

Trauma theories are tackled to understand the meaning of trauma and how to consider certain states as traumatic and/or depressive conditions.

It is both a psychological and social study demonstrated by the young Kane whose final play is considered a reflection to her final days ending in dramatic suicide.

The paper also examines trauma in British theatre and Sarah Kane’s personal traumatic state, trauma theories and traumatic analysis of 4.48 Psychosis.

The focal worry of this paper is to bring up issues about trauma experience and its portrayal just as the capacity of theater even with extreme occasions.

Significantly, this research highlights the fact that contemporary drama addresses complex issues of real life situations and that through drama, people of all ages could gain a sense of responsibility greater than oneself.