Thirty years on from the iconic film and following its world premiere in the West End, Trainspotting the Musical is heading to York.
Written and adapted by Irvine Welsh from his best-selling debut novel, and directed and developed by Caroline Jay Ranger, the musical based on the 1996 film is coming to the Grand Opera House York from Monday 9 to Saturday 14 September.
When Trainspotting was released in 1996, it 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’.
Now, three decades later, Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud, Tommy and Kelly, the working-class heroes of Scottish youth culture are back, live on stage.
Renton (played in the film by Ewan McGregor) will be played on stage by 26-year-old Scottish actor Robbie Scott. He will be 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.
The ensemble comprises Ally Kennard, Kieran Brown, Melanie Marshall, Lewis Kidd, Samuel Stewart, Finlay McKillop, Ciara Ennis, Victoria Nicol, Kyra Fyvie, and Chris O’Mara.
Irvine Welsh said, “I believe the musical has a bigger, louder, beating human heart than either the book or the film.
“People need to think about the world we’re living in, and we offer that inspection, but they also need to sing their hearts out and laugh their heads off. It’s what being human is all about.
“We’ve put together an incredible Scottish cast, and I can’t wait to see them bring the musical to life.”
In 1996, CHOOSE LIFE sounded like a challenge. Now the landscape has shifted, but the hunger hasn’t. Addiction hasn’t disappeared – it’s shifted. It’s quieter now, more embedded. Less needle, more screen. Less escape, more repetition. The modern addiction to mobile phones, faces stuck to screens, the same restless search for something to fill the space.
Trainspotting the Musical highlights the world we see changing around us, the obscene concentration of wealth, economic and political power in the hands of so few people. It addresses the modern culture of powerlessness.
It features new songs, with music and lyrics by Stephen McGuinness and Irvine Welsh, in addition to some of the electrifying tracks from the original film that defined a generation.
Tickets are available now for ATG members, with general sale on Wednesday 13 May.
