World premiere of TRAINSPOTTING THE MUSICAL to play in the West End
Thirty years on from the film that changed everything, the world premiere of Trainspotting The Musical storms into the West End this summer, written by Irvine Welsh (adapted from his best-selling debut novel), and directed and developed by Caroline Jay Ranger.
This is the story of the outsiders, the rebels - a brand-new expectation-defying and seismic British musical, pumping in live and loud defiance across the Theatre Royal Haymarket stage from 15 July.
In 1996, the “breakthrough British film” (The Guardian) Trainspotting was released and became the biggest grossing UK film of the year taking over $76 million worldwide 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, cult heroes of British youth culture Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud, Tommy and Kelly, are back alongside an ensemble cast and a live band. Renton (played in the film by Ewan McGregor) will be played on stage by 26-year-old Scottish actor Robbie Scott, making his West End debut. Further casting will be announced soon.
Irvine Welsh said: “This musical has a bigger, loudly beating human heart than either the book or the film. The various stage adaptations of Trainspotting 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.”
Featuring some of the electrifying tracks from the film that defined a generation, and together with original confrontational and celebratory songs (music and lyrics by Stephen McGuinness and Irvine Welsh), it's a genre defining new musical that speaks to our contemporary malaise of defiance in the face of an uncertain future.
Radical, invigorating and life-affirming, this provocative, unforgettable experience will have even the most sceptical leave on a consciousness-altering high.
Trainspotting the Musical features set and costume design by Colin Richmond, musical supervision, orchestrations & musical direction by Stuart Morley, video design by Douglas O’Connell, choreography by Christina Andrea, lighting by Ian Scott, sound design by Rory Madden for Sonalyst, and casting by Anne Vosser.
Trainspotting is not just a show. It’s a moment. It’s a manifesto. It’s who we are.
CHOOSE LIFE.
