For a novel about Edinburgh heroin addicts written in dense Scottish dialogue, Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting has proved to be a remarkably enduring cultural artefact: a book (with numerous sequels), a film, a cult stage play and now – 33 years on – a musical written by Welsh himself. The truth, of course, is that Danny Boyle’s film is its most iconic and definitive form, which this musical pretty much acknowleges: its song list will mix tracks by Welsh plus collaborator Stephen McGuinness with bangers from the movie’s iconic Britpop-era soundtrack (exactly which ones haven’t yet been decided-slash-cleared).
It’s hard to exactly imagine a musical about catastrophically crashing out heroin addict criminals in ’90s Edinburgh ending up as a Les Mis-style long-runner, but the show is directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, who has made a very solid fist of directing the live versions of Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses – Trainspotting is significantly edgier source material, but the film was a big hit and they’re clearly leaning into nostalgia for it. Don’t expect any star names, but the lead role of semi-likeable casualty Renton (aka the Ewan McGregor role) goes to Scots actor Robbie Scott (pictured).
