Director: Dawn Shadforth
Trespasses is a 2025 drama series set in Northern Ireland during the mid-1970s, adapted from Louise Kennedy's debut novel of the same name. Directed by Dawn Shadforth, the limited series follows two people from opposite sides of a divided community whose lives become entangled against a backdrop of civil unrest.
What is Trespasses about?
The story centres on a young schoolteacher working in a Catholic parish outside Belfast, where she also helps run her family's pub. Her ordinary routine shifts when she crosses paths with an older, married solicitor whose legal work brings him into contact with defendants connected to the republican movement of the period. As the two are drawn toward each other, the series traces how their connection presses against the sectarian lines, family expectations, and professional pressures that define the era. Moving between the classroom, the courtroom, and quiet domestic settings, the narrative shows how a wider conflict steadily intrudes on private lives.
Cast & crew
The ensemble is led by Lola Petticrew and Tom Cullen in the central roles, with Gillian Anderson among the supporting cast. Martin McCann, Emily Taaffe, Conlaoch Gough-Cunningham, Andrew Porter, and Daithi O Haragain also appear across the episodes. The performances are drawn largely from Irish and British screen actors, in keeping with the series' regional setting.
Context & significance
Trespasses is based on Louise Kennedy's award-winning 2022 novel, her first full-length work of fiction. Dawn Shadforth directs, bringing a background in music video and short-form filmmaking to the material. Episodes run roughly fifty minutes each, and the production is credited to the United States for the 2025 release year. The setting is 1970s Northern Ireland, a period of sustained sectarian tension that the series uses as historical backdrop rather than commentary. On IMDb the series holds a rating of about 7.2.
Where & how to watch
Trespasses can be streamed on K-Time once you sign in with a free account. On K-Time the series is available with a Persian dub and Persian subtitles, so viewers can follow it in Farsi. The film page itself is free to read without logging in, and the interface is built for the Iranian diaspora with a Farsi-friendly experience throughout.