TRANSGENDER struggles will be centre stage as the National Theatre of Scotland celebrates its tenth birthday with a programme of works including two new plays exploring gender identity.
Adam/Eve will premier during the theatre company's anniversary celebrations between August and December this year, with a production tour of Glasgow and Edinburgh in October.
'Eve', written and performed by acclaimed transgender playwright Jo Clifford, promises an "authentic and intimate insight" into the real life experiences of a trans person.
It charts the turbulent life of 'Eve', a transgender woman, from an oppressive boyhood in the 1950s through a time of huge personal, social and political change until she is able to realise her true identity.
Clifford was the first openly transgendered woman playwright to have had a play produced on London’s West End stage.
She said: "Being trans has informed all my work in the theatre but this opportunity to share my own story as a writer and performer is unique. I am so fortunate to have the gifted theatre-maker Chris Goode to guide me through the challenging experience of creating this incredibly personal piece of work.
"As a nation, Scotland is also on a journey of discovery and grappling with the issues of how to create a welcoming country that is committed to ending all forms of discrimination.”
'Adam', conceived and directed by Glasgow Girls co-creator, Cora Bissett, will delve into the true story of a young Egyptian trans man.
The story follows 'Adam', who flees a deeply conservative upbringing in Egypt where he has no outlet for his conviction that he is a man born into a woman's body. He settles in Glasgow where a simple online query - ‘Can the soul of a boy be trapped in the body of a girl?’ - becomes the catalyst for an "epic journey for the right to change his body".
Both productions are supported by the Mental Health Foundation and will run from October 10-31 as part of the NTS tenth year programme in conjunction with the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival.
Andrew Eaton-Lewis, arts lead for the Mental Health Foundation, said: “The negative impact of stigma and prejudice on the mental health of transgender people is well documented, so we’re delighted to support a project which is about telling stories of transgender lives in a positive and empowering way.
"We will be working with the National Theatre of Scotland throughout this year to find ways of telling even more of these stories – and to highlight issues around community, representation, human rights and mental health.”
Bissett said the story of the real-life Adam had left a deep impression on her.
She said: “I first saw Adam perform a short monologue about his incredible journey as part of the 'Here we Stay' Community performance organised by the Scottish Refugee Council and the Citizens learning team at the Citizens Theatre in 2013. It made a deep impression on me and I approached Adam and maintained contact over these years.
"I am delighted to bring Adam’s story, which is one not only of struggle, but inspiration, bravery, survival and love, back to the Citizens to a far wider audience at this pertinent time in our society's evolution.”
The programme will also feature a world premiere of a new co-production Anything That Gives Off Light at the Edinburgh International Festival in August, which uses the Scottish Enlightenment as a lens through which to examine the contrasting and overlapping national myths of Scotland and America.
Meanwhile, the acclaimed James plays will end a UK and international tour at the Luminato Festival in Toronto between June 16-26.
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