Transmission
Freedom Party leader and founder of the Scots Mission, Big Jimmy, is here to tell you how to keep yur grannies safe and make Scotland cis again!
Hilarious, curious and deeply human, Transmission is a darkly comedic and tender-hearted performance by playwright and drag artist Nelly Kelly, exploring Scotland's shift from world-leading on LGBT+ rights, to being fertile ground for the anti-trans movement.
Blending DIY cabaret with political theatre, male impersonation and a heap of mischief, Transmission examines how public perception of trans people is shaped—not by trans voices—but by ‘single issue’ campaigners, political-footballing and media distortion.
In 2024/5, Sanctuary provided producing support to Nelly in the research and development phase of Transmission - supported by an Unlimited UK Open Fund Award. Transmission has since been selected for the Made in Scotland showcase and will premiere at the Fringe in August 2026!
Transmission was an Unlimited UK Open Award 2024 commission made possible thanks to funding from Creative Scotland.
Developed from an initial Research and Development with Afton Moran
Lead image by Tiu Makkonen. All other images by Lou McCurdy.
Creative process
Nelly worked closely with Sanctuary creative producers Annabel Cooper and Fraser McLeod to shape the development process and build the creative team - working in an accessible, creative, flexible and responsive way to best support Nelly and the development of the work.
The creative team worked together over three development phases from January 2024 - May 2025, supported by the National Theatre of Scotland.
Nelly, Sanctuary and the core creative team are currently exploring ways to mount the production and take The Transmission to audiences in Scotland and beyond.
Watch this space!
Team
Creator and performer - Nelly Kelly
Creative Access Collaborator and co-creator - Kirsty Biff Nicolson
Director and co-creator - Susan Worsfold
Movement consultant - Frankie Mulholland
AV Designer - Jamie Wardrop
Sound Designer - Rhys Cook (Celyn of Gwent)
Lighting Designer - Emma Jones
BSL Consultancy - Bea Webster-Mockett and Leah Francisco
BSL interpreter - Elliot Webster-Mockett
BSL development - Rachel Amey, Yvonne Waddell
PA and Access Support Worker - Star Gaze
Creative Consultant - Nima Séne
Technical Stage Manager - Anissa Praquin
Production Manager - Camilla O Neill
Producers - Annabel Cooper and Fraser MacLeod for Sanctuary Queer Arts
Stage Manager at NTS - Lizzie Clapham
With thanks to Robert Softly Gale and Rosie Kellagher.
