If you are born in a country where being yourself can get you killed, exile is your only choice.
Adam is the remarkable, true story of a young trans man having to make that choice and begin his journey. From Egypt to Scotland, it charts Adam's fight across borders and genders to find a place to call home.
In a world first, Adam features a 120-strong, international digital world choir of trans individuals from across the globe which has been uniquely integrated into this remarkable multimedia production.
As Adam's story is brought up to date, real life events that make for infinitely happier times can't help but tug the heart strings in a powerful story of transcendence that comes in in many, many ways.
Adam is part of the Made in Scotland Showcase at the Edinburgh Fringe. This grouping of shows and events highlight the work that is performed by Scottish companies and artists and Adam can take pride and place as one of the best.
With an extraordinary story at its heart, Adam is ultimately a compelling piece of theatre, which seeks to fully interrogate the challenges of the trans experience.
All round punch in the gut theatre not to be missed.
I normally feel a bit uncomfortable and self-conscious participating in standing ovations. For Adam, I jumped to my feet almost as soon as the last notes had rung out. We stood together as an audience.
In the end, the great roar of applause is for Adam Kashmiry himself, for the mighty journey he has made in his first 25 years, and for all that lies ahead of him now.
There can be no denying the necessity of this story, or the power of this story. It would be a hard heart indeed that was not moved. As an achieved theatrical production, it is not quite so secure.
The production’s grassroots approach to telling Adam’s story is what makes it so successful. National Theatre of Scotland have delivered a play that is fresh, interesting and impactful, with a strong message of hope and persistence against bigotry that remains sincere throughout.
The overall result is remarkably good theatre: dynamic, surprising, cathartic, entertaining and revealing something about the world in a new way.
It is not an easy journey, but this is a big-hearted, moving show that explores both the human urgency of living your truth and the cost of that transformation.
The action seems to peter out towards the end, falling back a little on sentimentality, but the final moments, in which a 120-strong chorus of trans people from around the world affirms Adam’s journey of self-discovery supplies the piece with a truly transcendent denouement.
The tale is, by turns, distressing, enraging and deeply moving.
From an Egyptian girl to a Scottish man.
macrobert, Stirling from Tuesday September 5, 2017, until Wednesday September 6, 2017. More info: www.macrobert.org
Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow from Wednesday September 13, 2017, until Saturday September 16, 2017. More info: www.citz.co.uk
The Beacon, Greenock from Friday May 4, 2018, until Saturday May 5, 2018. More info: http://www.beaconartscentre.co.uk/
Dundee Rep Theatre, Dundee from Thursday May 24, 2018, until Saturday May 26, 2018. More info: www.dundeereptheatre.co.uk
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