Synchronicity assembles Young Team

Glasgow-based indie Synchronicity Films (The Cry) is adapting Scottish writer Graeme Armstrong’s debut novel The Young Team as a drama series.

Graeme Armstrong

The prodco has acquired the adaptation rights and already attached Adrian McDowall (The Last Czars) to direct, with leading British writer Ben Tagoe on board as screenwriter. Armstrong will act as consultant on the project.

The story is set in the housing schemes of Scotland’s former industrial heartland where teenage boys become embroiled in a booze and blades culture.

Claire Mundell, founder and creative director at Synchronicity Films, said: “Graeme’s novel vividly and honestly depicts the realities of life for a disenfranchised and much demonised section of working-class youth, young people on the margins of society who are too often under-served and misrepresented on screen.

“Scottish literature couldn’t be hotter right now and Graeme’s debut novel is another brilliant addition to the landscape, heralding an important new voice. We are thrilled to be working with Graeme, Ben and Adrian to collaborate on an authentic scripted adaptation of this seminal novel.”

McDowall’s recent credits include lead director of new six-part Netflix series The Last Czars; Jesus – His Life, an eight-part event series commissioned by A+E Networks and Grand Prix Driver, a four-part documentary series narrated by Michael Douglas for Amazon Prime.

Tagoe’s writing credits include Sky comedy In The Long Run (Green Door Pictures) and Stan Lee’s Lucky Man (Carnival Productions/Sky Television). He was also part of the writing team on CBBC’s Jamie Johnson and his episode End Game was shortlisted for the Children’s Bafta awards, International Emmys and Royal Television Society awards.