The Play's Themes and Issues

• Bullying - on page 9, you see James being called horrible names by his peers and getting beaten up by them because they think he's a "goth". 
• Depression - on page 14 and 15, it is written that James refuses to see his grandfather that at this point in the play we know he loves dearly. James would rather stay in and watch a gory film with blood and killing. Therefore, this must show he is at a depressing point in his life if he'd rather watch something so gory and horrid that he didn't think was gory enough than see his granddad that he so called loves!
• Death - on page 17, we are told that James grandfather dies of cancer which will definitely scar James. The last time he could see his granddad, he refused because he'd rather watch something  depressing and unpleasant
• Crime (murder) - on page 20, James has been accused of attempted murder. When he was drunk and smoked quite a lot, he was not himself and nearly strangled someone to death. 
• Peer pressure - on page 19, his peers have given him drugs and alcohol to drink. James didn't want to feel like the "wee nerdy" and took what he was given so they didn't think he was a coward.
• Abuse - on page 6, we are told that James' father abused his mother which would obviously traumatise any child who would have to witness their mum getting beaten up by their dad every single day at a young tender and fragile age. Also, on page 9 we see James being abused by his peers hitting him with a belt, kicking him in his ribs and throwing him down the stairs. 
• Love - on page 7, James describes his love for his granddad and the father-and-son relationship they have. 
• Hate - on page 13, James retaliates to the bullies and loses his temper and lashes out by throwing a chair at them and giving them what they want: a reaction.
• Confusion - on page 5, at the very start of the play, James starts of as being confused and unaware of what has happened to lead up to the point of his life that he's in. He asks himself questions such as "where am I?", "what did I do?" and etc.

Overall, I feel as if the overall themes and issues of the play is about depression, abuse and anger when tying to sum up all of the themes presented above.