Trainspotting The Musical at Theatre Royal Haymarket

At first glance, Trainspotting: the Musical seems like an unlikely addition to the West End, but original author Irvine Welsh’s adaptation for the stage keeps the grotty heart of the story while still managing to pull off a fully fledged musical. Set in late 1980s Edinburgh, Trainspotting follows a group of young working-class friends faced with no jobs, no prospects and a growing heroin problem.

The musical begins with an upbeat tone. Renton (confidently played by Lewis Kidd) has a nihilistic relish for life. He spends his nights at the pub with player and heroin addict Sick Boy (Sheridan Townsley), hapless, hyperactive and well-meaning Spud (Kieran Andrew), and “psycho, but he’s a mate, so what can you do” Franco Begbie (Frankie O’Connor).

The iconic 90s soundtrack was a huge part of the original film, so turning Trainspotting into a musical isn’t as outlandish as it may first appear. The show combines songs from the 1996 film soundtrack with Britpop hits from the era, such as Bitter Sweet Symphony and Mad World, alongside original songs co-written by Irvine Welsh and Stephen McGuinness.

Like the movie, Trainspotting: the Musical neither looks down on nor sanitises its characters. They are honest, real and raw, making it easy to empathise with them. Neither the highs nor the lows of addiction are shied away from. When Renton first takes heroin, it is followed by a euphoric song-and-dance number. The musical also shows Renton stealing from his parents immediately after a family tragedy, as well as illness, death and the incredible pain that comes with withdrawals.

By combining elements of Welsh’s 2012 novel Skagboys with the original story to flesh out the characters’ backstories and family dynamics, this version of Trainspotting feels less painfully stark than the film. The first few songs are upbeat and full of life, but the mood becomes darker towards the end of the first act, with tragedy foreshadowed as Alison (Rosie Dignan) repeatedly walks around saying that her baby is “sleeping”, before culminating in an ironic rendition of Lou Reed’s Perfect Day, which clashes with the harsh reality of cot death, neglect, and the pursuit of oblivion.

The production has a grungy 90s aesthetic. There is no elaborate physical set design; instead, digital projections and lighting are used to establish each location. There are no fluorescent spotlights here. Instead, the stage is lit with dim red, blue and purple hues that effectively evoke Renton’s small, sparse room. The walls are grimy, with an Iggy Pop poster in Renton’s bedroom quietly giving way to “Fast Cash” posters on the streets. During the infamous toilet scene, the walls fill with abstract watery visuals before dissolving into a soothing montage of Renton swimming through murky water.

Kieran Andrew gives an impressively physical and funny performance as Spud, portraying him as hyperactive, unfortunate and ultimately good-natured. One of the standout scenes sees Spud, Renton and Sick Boy attending an interview at the job centre. Spud, high on speed, comically tries to stop his shaking leg by gently patting it, before proudly telling the interviewer, “This is the best job interview I’ve ever been on.”

The plot moves at a rapid pace, and the characters speak in thick Scottish accents, so it can take a little while to settle into the narrative and feel confident about what’s happening. While the musical still includes the story’s most confronting moments, they feel softened and less jarring than in the film; the dark humour, richly drawn characters and strangely uplifting – if morally ambiguous – ending leave the audience in surprisingly jaunty spirits.

Sophia Moss
Photos: Matt Crockett

Trainspotting The Musical is at Theatre Royal Haymarket from 15^th July until 5^th September 2026. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.

Watch the trailer for Trainspotting The Musical at Theatre Royal Haymarket here: