Theatre
Review
What to expect at Trainspotting The Musical
Irvine Welsh’s counterculture novel and Danny Boyle’s 1996 film get a musical makeover at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Trainspotting The Musical has opened doors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, bringing the underground youth culture of 90s Scotland to the London stage. Unexpected it may be, but the show is welcoming the sceptics in, pitching itself as a musical unlike anything previously seen on the West End – a fervent reminder to ‘choose life’.
Deliberating over those tickets? Here’s what you need to know.
The story
More linear than the novel and more streamlined than the film, Trainspotting The Musical’s book follows Mark Renton, a young heroin addict living in Leith and navigating poverty and addiction with his dysfunctional group of friends. Renton knows their way of life is imperfect, but it isn’t until things take a turn for the tragic that he realises how badly he needs to get clean and get out.
The music
Trainspotting The Musical features songs from the 1996 film as well as original numbers by Stephen McGuinness and Irvine Welsh. You’ll hear Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust For Life’, Lou Reed’s ‘Perfect Day’ and New Order’s ‘Temptation’, along with other familiar tracks, but McGuinness and Welsh provide new story-focused songs too. Expect everything from classic West End ballads to a jaunty, sweary line-dance.
The cast
The show employs a lot of young talent, with a few West End debuts in the cast. Lewis Kidd (Starlight Express) leads as Renton, taking over from Robbie Scott following an injury in rehearsals (Scott will return to the show for the UK tour). There are impressive turns from Sheridan Townsley as Sick Boy, Kieran Andrew as Spud, and Frankie O’Connor as Franco Begbie, and Finlay Paul gives a moving performance as Tommy, the ‘clean’ member of the gang who ultimately falls harder than the rest.
Yana Harris and Sophie Hutchinson star as Kelly and Lizzie respectively, whilst Rosie Dignan makes a memorable professional stage debut as Alison. The cast is completed by Rebecca McKinnis as Cathy Renton, Gordon Cooper as Dave Renton, Ashley J. Russell as Colleen, Ally Kennard as Swanney, Kieran Brown as Twiggy and Melanie Marshall as the Call of Heroin.
The ensemble features Samuel Stewart, Finlay McKillop, Ciara Ennis, Victoria Nicol, Kyra Fyvie and Chris O’Mara.
The experience
Trainspotting The Musical isn’t the first West End show to bring heavy subject matter to musical theatre, and shows like Jonathon Larsen’s RENT (returning later this year) prove that it can work. Director Caroline Jay Ranger ensures that Trainspotting The Musical has plenty of light to balance the shade, whether it’s Spud’s speed-enhanced job interview or Kelly, Lizzie and Alison’s performance of Republica’s ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ into brick phones.
If you’re a fan of the original film there’ll be lots you recognise here, but by nature of the medium, this isn’t a direct redo, and there’s lots to be surprised by too. For those going in blind, Trainspotting The Musical isn’t a feel-good night out with the family – but it is a conversation you’ll want to be in on.
