The highly anticipated television adaptation of Louise Kennedy's celebrated novel Trespasses makes its debut tonight on Channel 4, promising to become your next must-watch drama obsession. This blistering account of forbidden love and fractured loyalties during Northern Ireland's turbulent 1970s has already generated significant buzz among literary and television enthusiasts alike.
What Makes Trespasses Compulsive Viewing?
Set in a small town just outside Belfast during the height of The Troubles, Trespasses follows Catholic schoolteacher Cushla Lavery as she navigates the dangerous political landscape while embarking on a passionate affair with Michael, an older, married Protestant barrister. Against a backdrop of car bombs, murders and ever-present violence, their forbidden relationship unfolds with intoxicating intensity.
The four-part series stars Lola Petticrew as Cushla, fresh from her acclaimed performance in Say Nothing, while Tom Cullen portrays her lover Michael. In a particularly compelling casting decision, Gillian Anderson takes on the role of Gina, Cushla's sharp-tongued mother who struggles with alcoholism.
Produced by Wildgaze Films, the company behind critically praised films including Brooklyn and An Education, the adaptation has been handled by Ailbe Keogan, known for her work on Bad Sisters. The production team has worked meticulously to preserve the novel's powerful atmosphere and complex character dynamics.
Behind the Scenes of This Powerful Adaptation
Lola Petticrew revealed that she was so captivated by Kennedy's novel that she actively pursued the role before casting had even begun. "I called my agent and was like 'Heya, I've just finished reading this book and they are going to make it into something and when they do, I want to play Cushla Lavery'," the Belfast-born actress recalled during a recent Q&A session.
While Petticrew didn't face the challenge of mastering a Northern Irish accent, her co-star Tom Cullen admitted his initial attempts required significant improvement. "In the original tape I sent in, the accent was utterly diabolical, and I have no idea how I was cast," Cullen joked, noting that extensive work with a dialect coach proved essential to his performance.
Both actors emphasised the importance of portraying the central relationship without judgment or shame. "It's not just a sexual attraction. It's one of spirit and mind," Cullen explained. "When he walks into the pub and sees her crack that joke, it fills him up."
Petticrew added: "We meet Cushla as a young woman who is experiencing a sexual awakening, and she is completely in charge of that, and I wanted to make sure she wasn't ashamed of that."
From Acclaimed Novel to Must-See Television
Louise Kennedy's debut novel achieved remarkable success even before hitting television screens. Trespasses was shortlisted for both the 2022 inaugural Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and the 2023 Women's Prize for Fiction, establishing Kennedy as a significant new voice in Irish literature.
Remarkably, Kennedy wrote the novel "in a haze" while undergoing cancer treatment, setting herself the challenge of writing 1,000 words daily during three months off work. By the end of eleven weeks, she had completed 64,000 words of what she described as "something that could loosely be called a novel," never expecting it would reach publication, let alone television adaptation.
The author has spoken eloquently about setting a love story against the violent backdrop of The Troubles. "I think in any world there are contradictions, horror and hope side by side. Northern Ireland was no different," Kennedy reflected. "There was fear and suspicion, but people still got married, had friendships, had children."
The title itself works on multiple levels, referencing moral boundaries, class divisions, physical borders, and the spiritual concept of sin from the Lord's Prayer - all themes that resonate throughout Cushla and Michael's story.
Early reviews suggest the television adaptation successfully captures the novel's powerful balance between life-affirming romance and the shocking realities of life during The Troubles. The production's attention to detail - from beautifully shot scenes to period-accurate costumes - creates an immersive experience that promises to stay with viewers long after the final credits roll.
Trespasses begins tonight at 9pm on Channel 4, with all four episodes available for streaming, offering audiences the opportunity to binge-watch this compelling drama or savour it episode by episode.
