Trainspotting The Musical on tour
- Alan Hulme
- 3m
- 2 min read
Thirty years on from the barrier-breaking film, and following its London world premiere this July, Trainspotting The Musical will set off on its first UK tour, with its first northern dates at Sheffield City Hall (October 26-31) and Manchester's Palace Theatre (November 2-7).
That date will be followed by visits to York Grand Opera House (November 9-14); Hull New Theatre (November 16-21); Leeds Grand (December 7-12); Blackpool Opera House (December 14-19); Bradford Live (February 8-13, 2027) and Sunderland Empire (February 22-27, 2027).
Released in 1996, Trainspotting became the biggest-grossing UK film of the year and won a slew of awards including a BAFTA for best screenplay. In 1999 it was ranked 10th in the British Film Institute’s Top 100 Greatest British Films of the 20th Century.
Three decades later, the drug-crazed, working-class heroes of British youth culture - Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud, Tommy and Kelly - are again live on stage. And this time, they sing - music and lyrics by Stephen McGuinness and Welsh himself.
Renton (Ewan McGregor in the film) will be played on stage by 26-year-old Scottish actor Robbie Scott, joined by fellow Scots actors Sheridan Townsley as Sick Boy; Kieran Andrew as Spud; Frankie O'Connor as Begbie; Finlay Paul as Tommy; Rebecca McKinnis as Cathy Renton; Gordon Cooper as Davie Renton; Ashley J Russell as Colleen; Rosie Dignan as Alison; Yana Harris as Kelly, and Sophie Hutchinson as Lizzie.
Irvine Welsh, who has adapted his own book for the musical stage, said: “This musical has a bigger, loudly-beating human heart than either the book or the film. The various stage adaptations have become acclaimed and moving theatrical experiences and the soundtrack to the movie is obviously iconic. So it made sense to put the music and words together to create an explosive, provocative and entertaining show.
"People need to think about the world we’re living in, and we offer that inspection, but they also really need to sing their hearts out and laugh their heads off - it’s what being human is all about – and they’ll be well served with this too. We’ve put together an incredible Scottish cast and I can’t wait to see them bring the musical to life.”
More info and tickets here
