Graeme Armstrong’s THE YOUNG TEAM to be adapted for the stage by the National Theatre of Scotland and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

Author photo: Robert Ormerod

THE YOUNG TEAM – Graeme Armstrong’s award-winning debut novel – is set to hit the stage in 2027, in an adaptation co-produced by the National Theatre of Scotland and the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London. Adapted for the stage by Kieran Hurley and directed by the Lyric Hammersmith’s Artistic Director Rachel O’Riordan, the play will make its bow at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Summer 2027, before coming to London for a limited engagement from 2 September until 25 September. It will end its first run at the Citizen’s Theatre, Glasgow, later in Autumn 2027.

Tickets for the London shows at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre are on sale now.

THE YOUNG TEAM is a searing exploration of masculinity and tribalism about a group of teens drawn into the orbit of the local Young Team Posse in Scotland’s post-industrial heartland. First published by Picador in 2020, and inspired by Graeme Armstrong’s own experiences in North Lanarkshire in the early 2000’s, the novel won a Betty Trask Award, a Somerset Maugham Award, and the Scots Book o the Year 2021. A TV adaptation, produced by Synchronicity Films for BBC One and BBC Scotland and starring a cast of breakthrough local talent alongside established stars Kevin McKidd (GREY’S ANATOMY) and Laura Fraser (BREAKING BAD), is currently filming ahead of broadcast in 2027.

‘I’m excited to see THE YOUNG TEAM adapted for stage and look forward to working with both Rachel and Kieran to bring the complex world of Scottish territorial violence to a new audience, particularly those who may have never seen their lives or communities depicted in a theatrical production before’ said Graeme.

‘Graeme’s brilliant novel is a powerful example of the epic stories that unfold in ordinary people’s lives, and it has been an honour to be allowed to spend time living in its world,’ added Kieran Hurley, playwright/adapter of THE YOUNG TEAM. ‘As well as an uncompromising and brutally honest account of violence and gang life, it's really a wonderful story of young male friendship, its loyalty, rivalry, and surprising tenderness. I can't wait to see Azzy Williams take over the theatre, bringing these uniquely Scottish voices to the stage, and for audiences to feel the pull of the Young Team: the love and allegiances that bind these boys together, and the damage and hurt they inflict and endure. I hope it will move and provoke and ultimately open a conversation about our young men and their vital, dangerous, and often unrequited search for recognition and belonging.’

Rachel O’Riordan, the director of THE YOUNG TEAM, said: ‘I am so proud to be directing Kieran Hurley’s stage version of THE YOUNG TEAM by Graeme Armstrong. The novel is a cultural phenomenon – heartbreaking, vital and hilarious… Partnering with National Theatre Scotland on the stage adaption of Graeme Armstrong’s blistering debut novel feels like a vital and exciting connection. Writer Kieran Hurley and I, with a tremendous creative team, will share this powerful story with audiences in both Scotland and London in a bold theatrical experience’

‘You’re loyal Azzy Williams. You’re loyal to your mates. That’s good. You’ll no be runnin aboot wae that lot forever but, surely?’

Welcome to Scotland in 2005.

For Azzy, born and bred in North Lanarkshire, the Young Team Posse (YTP) seems to promise everything he could possibly want: excitement, community, freedom. It’s where boys become men, and he’s hungry to grow up.

Soon he’s rising up the ranks, showing the world what he’s made of. It’s fast, furious – and dangerous. Is the Young Team where Azzy belongs, or just where he’s ended up? Either way, the YTP is for life. Getting in is easy, not so finding a way back out…

About Graeme Armstrong

Graeme Armstrong is a Scottish writer from Airdrie. His teenage years were spent within North Lanarkshire’s gang culture. Alongside overcoming his own struggles with drug addiction, alcohol abuse and violence, he defied expectation to read English as an undergraduate at the University of Stirling; where, after graduating with honours, he returned to study a Masters’ in Creative Writing. He is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Strathclyde.

Graeme regularly works within the community visiting prisons and schools, giving talks on his experiences of gang-culture and substance abuse. He promotes a message of anti-violence and abstinence-based recovery.

His bestselling debut novel, THE YOUNG TEAM (Picador, 2020), is inspired by his experiences. It won a Betty Trask Award, a Somerset Maugham Award, and the Scots Book o the Year 2021, and is set for both TV and stage adaptations in 2027. Graeme’s second novel, RAVEHEART, was published by 4th Estate in 2026.

In 2021, Graeme presented Scotland: The Rave, a documentary broadcast by the BBC that explored Scotland’s rave and PCDJ culture, subsequently nominated for a BAFTA Scotland and RTS Scotland Award 2022. His second documentary series, Street Gangs, where Graeme reflects on his own past as an ex-gang member to try to understand life inside a modern gang, aired on the BBC in October 2023.

In 2023, Graeme was chosen as one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists, an accolade that is awarded once a decade.

Praise for THE YOUNG TEAM

‘(A) firecracker of a debut... a welcome noughties update of Kingsley Amis’s beer-soaked hanxiety in Lucky Jim.’ – Suzi Feay, The Guardian

‘Raw and lyrical... written in a voice that recalls Irvine Welsh and Alan Warner – dialect that fizzes off the page.’ – The Observer

‘Armstrong’s writing captures what it’s like to be a young, angry man in a way most novels could only dream of. Yet, in spite of the constant violence and disenfranchisement experienced by the characters in the text, there’s a chewy core of hope at the centre of THE YOUNG TEAM to latch onto.’ – Lucas Oakeley, ‘5 Books Redefining Modern Masculinity’, Service95

Follow Graeme on X (previously Twitter) and Instagram.

Michael Hogan’s cosy canine sequel DEATH AT THE DOG HOTEL acquired by Penguin Michael Joseph

DEATH AT THE DOG HOTEL, the follow-up to Michael Hogan’s charming debut THE DOGWALKER’S DETECTIVE AGENCY, has been acquired by Penguin Michael Joseph. Editor Grace Long bought World All Language rights from Juliet Pickering ahead of publication in paperback, eBook and audio on 19 November 2026. North American rights have been sold to Claiborne Hancock at Pegasus Books – for publication in Summer 2027 – and Italian rights have sold to Edizioni Piemme SpA.

DEATH AT THE DOG HOTEL is a witty and festive locked-room murder mystery. When Charlie Boardman and his fellow dogwalkers are invited to an exclusive new dog-friendly hotel on the outskirts of their seaside hometown of Framstone, they’re looking forward to the ultimate wintery getaway. But when a hotel guest’s body is discovered in suspicious circumstances, the dogwalkers’ staycation takes a turn for the worse. Guests and staff quickly become suspects, and Charlie and his canine-loving friends must pivot from festive thrills to sniffing out the killer in their midst. Who checked into the dog hotel with murder in mind?

‘Crimes will always need solving and dogs will always need walking, so I'm overjoyed to continue the adventures of the Framstone gang and their ragtag pack of hounds,’ said Michael. ‘A locked room mystery at a snowed-in boutique hotel - what could be cosier? I hope readers will enjoy this seasonal sequel as much as I enjoyed writing it. Waggy Christmas, one and all.’

‘It’s been a delight to work with Michael on bringing THE DOGWALKER’S DETECTIVE AGENCY to readers, and I’m thrilled to bring the next instalment, DEATH AT THE DOG HOTEL, to fans of cosy crime and dogs alike!’ added editor Grace Long. ‘With a fantastic cast of characters, warm humour and a wonderfully festive set-up, all tied together with a gripping and twisty mystery, DEATH AT THE DOG HOTEL is the perfect stocking stuffer this Christmas.’

Photo: Clara Molden

About Michael Hogan

Michael Hogan is a writer and editor with a 30-year career in journalism. As a freelance writer for the past 12 years, he’s been TV critic for the Telegraph and written for the Guardian, Observer, Radio Times, Red, Q, Empire, Marie Claire, Grazia, Glamour, InStyle, Esquire, ES and You magazine.

He lives in London with his family and a rescue dog called Ivy. To escape them all and get some work/procrastination done, he commutes to a shed at the bottom of his garden.

Praise for THE DOGWALKER’S DETECTIVE AGENCY

‘This sweet, big-hearted novel is like THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB with Dogs. I horsed through it and found it hugely uplifting. The friendship between the characters is beautiful, and I LOVE the protagonist Charlie. It really kept me guessing – and oh my God, that final FINAL twist! I need more!’ – Marian Keyes

‘Clever, charming and as twisty as a string of sausages stolen from a butcher’s by a Staffy.’ – Adam Kay

‘Michael Hogan is a hilariously funny writer, and this is a total treat’ – Jenni Colgan

‘Brilliant. I inhaled it. This is actually my dream book.’ – Claudia Winkleman

‘Charming, big-hearted, and with a gigantic twist. But frankly, you had me at ‘dogs’. – Jojo Moyes

Follow Michael Hogan on X, BlueSky and Instagram

Irish Mythology Anthology, BANSHEE, edited by Ailbhe Malone, Won at Auction by Renegade/John Murray

Cover design: Aoife Cawley

Journalist and editor Ailbhe Malone has gathered some of Ireland’s finest contemporary female voices for BANSHEE, a spellbinding anthology of original short stories which breathes new life into ancient Irish myths. Christina Demosthenous, former Publisher at Renegade Books, won UK and Commonwealth rights at auction from Juliet Pickering, with editor Abigail Scruby overseeing publication following Christina’s departure. With a bespoke, striking cover designed by artist Aoife Cawley, BANSHEE will be published in hardback, eBook and audio on 26 February 2026.

BANSHEE seeks to reclaim the stories of women who have too long stood in the shadows of warriors and kings. Transporting you to treacherous landscapes and salt-crashing seas, generational curses and mystical islands, in BANSHEE you'll find unruly mothers, rule-breaking queens, defiant mermaids and women outrunning their destiny – stories pulsing with desire, danger and defiance.

With contributions from every corner of Irish literature, BANSHEE features luminous retellings by Jane Casey, Naoise Dolan, Salma El-Wardany, Wendy Erskine, Nikita Gill, Anne Griffin, Sarah Maria Griffin, Jess Kidd, Megan Nolan and Sheila O'Flanagan.

 ‘An anthology felt like the only way to do this project justice,’ said Ailbhe Malone. ‘I was blown away by the response from authors who wanted to participate, and the end result is thrilling, fresh, and compulsively readable. I'm beyond thrilled to be working with JMP, and February 2026 cannot come soon enough.’

‘From the early days of the seanchaí to today, myth and legend has been an inseparable part of Irish culture,’ added Abigail Scruby. ‘The stories in BANSHEE, by some of our finest contemporary writers, are witty, dark and exhilarating, revealing the richness of Irish mythology, while also giving the heroines their long-awaited dues.’

Juliet Pickering said: ‘It was clear that the omission of Irish stories was a huge gap in our mythology publishing, and when Ailbhe suggested the idea for this anthology it was irresistible. We have an incredible line up of authors and their retellings are wonderfully surprising, compelling and long overdue. We're proud to bring these women back into the limelight and celebrate their legacies.’

Photo: Robin Christian

About Ailbhe Malone

Ailbhe Malone is Senior Editor at the Strategist (New York Magazine). She has also worked for the Guardian, Irish Times, Wired and Nylon (US). Educated at Trinity College Dublin, Ailbhe spent summers in the west of Ireland, surrounded by the foundations of legends featured in this collection. From learning about the salmon of knowledge from a seanchaí to reading Sinéad de Valera's Irish Fairy Tales under the covers at night, she gobbled up every variant of folktale she could find.

Ailbhe is also the author of two self-care books: 101 TINY CHANGES TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY (Icon Books, 2018), and 101 TINY CHANGES TO BRIGHTEN YOUR WORLD (Icon Books, 2019).

Praise for BANSHEE

‘I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it. I was immersed in it. A mystical, magical, empowering modern re-imagining of the Irish Goddesses.  A unique and compelling read, I LOVED these superb stories.’ – Patricia Scanlan

‘Sharply-written and urgent, BANSHEE conjures a dazzlingly modern mythology of our oldest stories, richly imagined by the very best of Irish writers. I loved every page.’ – Doireann Ní Ghríofa

Sceptre to publish 'raw, uncompromising and intensely lyrical' Natasha Carthew’s new non-fiction ROUGH EDGES

Acclaimed writer, poet and activist Natasha Carthew’s fierce and powerful new non-fiction title, ROUGH EDGES: WHERE LAND MEETS WATER, THE UNTOLD STORIES OF COASTLINE COMMUNITIES has been acquired by Sceptre. Editorial Director at Sceptre, Charlotte Humphery will publish the book after Hannah Black acquired UK and Commonwealth rights (exc. Canada) from Juliet Pickering. ROUGH EDGES will be available in in hardback, export trade paperback, ebook and audio digital download on 4 June 2026.

Following on from Natasha’s Nero Prize shortlisted memoir, UNDERCURRENT, ROUGH EDGES is a rallying cry for the beauty and importance of our coast and its people. Beyond the picture postcards, Britain’s coastal communities are suffering. Crowds flood the beaches during summer heatwaves, but quickly vanish again, leaving behind litter and unstable seasonal jobs. Seaside property is in high demand but affordable only for landlords and gentrifiers. The cost-of-living crisis and the ongoing pains of austerity trap those at the vulnerable edges of our nation in poverty.

Having grown up in rural Cornwall, Natasha Carthew leaves the county in search of a new home. Travelling the country and exploring the villages, towns and cities of our coast, she meets the people fighting to keep these places alive. With fierce compassion, she shares their voices and their stories.

Charlotte Humphery says: ‘Natasha is a remarkable force on the page and in the world, and I’m proud to be working with her on this vital new book. Whether exploring coastal cities or walking country paths, she traces economic shifts, the cost of austerity and considers the past and the future of these places under threat by climate change, gentrification and political expediency. Journeying across the country, she gives voice to those often ignored and finds hope in the persistence of coastal communities and those who live on our nation’s edges.’

Natasha Carthew says: ‘I’m delighted to be able to call Sceptre the home for my new non-fiction ROUGH EDGES, and I couldn’t wish for anyone better to guide me along the urban edges of our coastline than Charlotte, an editor who is a compassionate, considerate and curious, ensuring that the voices of our nation, especially those of the working-class, are heard loud and clear.’

About Natasha Carthew

Natasha Carthew is a Cornish working-class writer, poet and activist. She is the author of ten books, most recently UNDERCURRENT: A CORNISH MEMOIR OF POVERTY, NATURE AND RESILIENCE (2023), which was shortlisted for the non-fiction prize at the inaugural Nero Book Awards. She has also contributed to HAG: FORGOTTEN TALES (2020) and WOMEN ON NATURE: 100+ VOICES ON PLACE, LANDSCAPE & THE NATURAL WORLD (2021) and BOG PEOPLE: A WORKING-CLASS ANTHOLOGY OF FOLK HORROR (2025).

Natasha has written extensively on nature and socio-economics, and frequently discusses how authentic rural working-class writing is represented, for several publications and programmes including BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, The Guardian, The Bookseller, Book Brunch, The Big Issue and The Economist.

Natasha is also the Founder and Director of The Working Class Writers Festival and Common Ground Nature Prize for Working Class Writers.

Praise for Natasha Carthew

‘Natasha writes with a vivid, imagistic language’ – The Financial Times

‘Carthew is an elegantly lyrical writer’ – The Independent

‘Gripping stuff, Carthew’s prose has a startling ferocity’ – The Telegraph

‘Carthew’s is a different voice: sinewy and inventive’ – Patrick Gale

‘The rhythm of the language is hypnotic, and the powerful imagery of Natasha’s prose takes over. The raw energy and beauty of the landscapes are particularly well-evoked’ – Daily Mail

‘A real thing of beauty. The innovative structure and striking illustrations combine to create a verbal and visual feast. The reader feels like they are down in the darkness of mine and eavesdropping on the past’ – Cathy Rentzenbrink

‘Carthew’s writing is raw, uncompromising and intensely lyrical’ – Bookanista

‘Rough and taciturn and frank and, at times, utterly shocking. But Natasha’s writing is also deeply, deeply intimate’ – The Bookbag

Follow Natasha on X (previously Twitter) and Instagram.