Article Source: National Theatre of Scotland
Last Updated: 12 February 2021 9:38
Broadcast as part of BBC Arts ‘Lights Up’ for New Culture in Quarantine Season on BBC iPlayer and BBC Four and will premiere on BBC Scotland in early March 2021.
Inspired by the life of Adam Kashmiry, Adam tells the remarkable story of a young trans man and his struggle across genders and borders to be himself. Originally a multi-award-winning stage play, Adam has been reinvented as a compelling, theatrical on-screen drama, presented by the National Theatre of Scotland and Hopscotch Films. Adam Kashmiry performs, as himself, in the leading role.
Born in Egypt, Adam was assigned female at birth but always knew he was a boy. Trapped, with no way to describe this feeling, in a deeply conservative society where falling in love with the wrong person can get you killed, he knew that he had to escape. With a borrowed laptop he typed in a question: ‘Can the soul of a man be trapped in the body of a woman?’ What followed was beyond Adam’s wildest dreams. A catalyst to begin the epic journey for the right to change his body, to the boy he knew himself to be.
Written by playwright and dramatist Frances Poet, and reworked for the screen, the hour-long drama focuses on Adam’s isolating experiences in a Glasgow flat while awaiting a decision on his asylum claim. Trapped in a Catch 22 where he cannot prove his need for asylum as a trans man until he transitions but is unable to start transitioning until he is granted asylum, Adam is left alone to wrestle with his conflicting thoughts and feelings as every waking moment sees him haunted by figures from his past and present.
The on-screen version is brought to life by directors Louise Lockwood and Cora Bissett, as well as the stage production star Adam Kashmiry whose life story is at the heart of the drama.
Adam is joined on screen by Myriam Acharki, Yasmin Al-Khudhairi, Haqi Ali, Neshla Caplan, Stephen McCole, Rehanna MacDonald and Hamish Wyllie.
The creative team includes director of photography Carlo D'Alessandro, designer Emily James, lighting designer Lizzie Powell and composer Jocelyn Pook.
The drama features a virtual online trans world choir, brought together for the original award-winning stage production. They appear together on-screen singing Jocelyn Pook’s epic choral original score. Jocelyn Pook is widely known for her score for the film Eyes Wide Shut. She has worked with some of the world’s leading artists, and arts institutions including Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, the Royal Opera House, BBC Proms, Massive Attack and Laurie Anderson.
Adam first premiered in a National Theatre of Scotland production at Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre in 2017 as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Since its award-winning opening run, the production has visited venues across the UK, including a run in London as part of the Battersea Arts Centre’s Phoenix Season, as well as an international engagement at New York’s Skirball Festival in 2019. A one-man version of Adam performed by Adam Kashmiry premiered online at The Shedinburgh Fringe Festival in 2020.
The on-screen adaptation is produced by the National Theatre of Scotland and Hopscotch Films and commissioned by BBC Scotland and BBC Arts. All organisations previously collaborated on the National Theatre of Scotland’s hugely successful Scenes for Survival series, which saw 55 dramatic shorts created in isolation by over 200 leading artists and creatives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Find out more at www.nationaltheatrescotland.com and join the conversation: #NTSAdam
SCOTTISH rugby fans have been called upon to cast their vote for the greatest ever Murrayfield rugby moment as part of celebrations marking the national stadium’s centenary.
READ MORE
Scotland's biggest Christmas drive-in returns: 11 days of Elf, Home Alone & more at Loch Lomond Shores!
READ MORE
The Beat the Street challenge taking place across Cambuslang and Rutherglen has now concluded and the winners have been announced!
READ MORE
Visitors to the National Museum of Rural Life are being encouraged to donate their Halloween pumpkins and turnips on November 1st.
READ MORE
First Bus is offering free travel for all veterans and UK Armed Forces personnel travelling to Remembrance Day activities of Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.
READ MORE
Scotland's favourite beer, Tennent's Lager, has unveiled the world's first ever Square Wurst - a Scottish classic with a German twist - to mark the launch of Tennent's Bavarian Pilsner.
READ MORE
Concert by Candlelight, Scottish Ensemble's celebrated long-running winter tour, returns for eight awe-inspiring performances in intimate settings around Scotland this December.
READ MORE
As the festive season approaches, five-star Scottish castle, Crossbasket Castle, has unveiled its calendar of seasonal events and experiences.
READ MORE
Dobbies is encouraging customers to come along to their nearest store and to be the first to shop exclusive Black Friday offers at its late-night shopping event, in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK.
READ MORE
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched new offerings designed to inspire cosy autumn getaways and early festive escapes across Scotland.
READ MORE
Nominations are open for the highly anticipated Scottish Excellence Awards 2026, a celebration of Scotland's hospitality, foodservice and tourism sectors.
READ MORE
Dobbies is hosting a free-to-attend monthly gardening workshop on Sunday 2 November, for children across the country to discover how they can encourage winter birds into the garden.
READ MORE
M&D's Scotland's Theme Park, in partnership with Wicked Entertainment, is to host Miss Rachel inspired shows following sell out performances earlier in the year.
READ MORE
The public are urged to take part in the Scottish Government's consultation on planning laws, warning that the changes could put the country's live music venues and pubs at risk.
READ MORE
A once little-known and unmanaged woodland in South Lanarkshire is now a vibrant outdoor learning space, thanks to a £117k renewables grant.
READ MORE
For the first time this Halloween, the quiet world heritage village of New Lanark will gather for a Haunted Duck Race down the 'eerie' Lade, the water channel conveying water to the mill-wheel.
READ MORE
The shortlisted titles for this year’s Saltires, Scotland’s National Book Awards, were announced at Blackwell’s bookshop in Edinburgh.
READ MORE
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award has unveiled the 10 Shortlisted albums now in the running for 2025’s title and £20,000 prize, as well as five Sound of Young Scotland finalists.
READ MORE
There's loads to see and do – from pet friendly days out to breakfast with dinosaurs, loch tours and much more!
READ MORE
Scotland's largest wedding showcase, The Scottish Wedding Show, returns to Glasgow this weekend, ready to welcome thousands of couples from across the country looking to plan their dream day!
READ MORE
Keela, the Scottish outdoor clothing brand, and Mountaineering Scotland Launch ‘Within You’, an new three-month campaign, inspiring Confidence, Connection, and Adventure in the Outdoors!
READ MORE
Scotland's national celebration of books, Book Week Scotland, returns from 17th to 23rd November and tickets are on sale now!
READ MORE
Aldi Scotland's much-loved Supermarket Sweep challenge recently returned to Motherwell, and one lucky local winner has raised £456.89 for CHAS while picking up the same amount in for herself.
READ MORE
Dobbies Garden Centres is lifting community spirits this season with a Christmas tree donation across the country, in partnership with Needlefresh.
READ MORE
Former Celtic and Scotland football heroes to join ex-player with MND on 150-mile March of The Day to raise funds to help tackle the disease.
READ MORE
Amy MacDonald, Hue and Cry, Nathan Evans and The Saint PHNX Band, Skipinnish, Shay O'Dowd and James Emmanuel are among the first winners to be announced for the GUITARGUITAR Scottish Music Awards!
READ MORE
Scotland’s colourful past bursts to life this October as Historic Environment Scotland (HES) returns with its popular Living History programme for the school holidays.
READ MORE
The Scottish Government's Women and Girls in Sport Week launches this week, celebrating the power of movement and encouraging women and girls of all ages to get active in ways that work for them.
READ MORE
With the October school holidays fast approaching, ScotRail has unveiled a new, affordable way for families to make the most of the break!
READ MORE
Shoppers and local businesses in Motherwell's Brandon Street got more than they bargained for when they came face to face with some escaped zombies from M&D's Scotland's Scream Park.
READ MORE