Home / Arts and Entertainment / Trainspotting Musical: A Tame Trip?
Trainspotting Musical: A Tame Trip?
23 Jul
Summary
- Stage adaptation fails to capture original film's dangerous energy.
- Story feels fragmented, with well-known scenes presented out of order.
- Musical numbers, while sometimes enjoyable, imitate better originals.
The musical stage adaptation of Irvine Welsh's "Trainspotting," now playing at Theatre Royal Haymarket, has been criticized for failing to capture the dangerous energy of the original 1990s film. The production's narrative structure is described as fragmented, with scenes disconnected and iconic moments presented in a jumbled order, diminishing their impact. Despite attempts to recreate the characters, such as Renton, they are perceived as flat and lacking the charisma of their film counterparts.
While the musical includes moments like the death of Alison's baby and Tommy's decline into heroin use, these are handled too briskly to be truly devastating. Cover songs like Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life" offer some high points but are seen as mere imitations of the film's successful soundtrack. Original songs by Stephen McGuinness and Welsh are largely forgettable. The show concludes its London run on September 5, 2026, before embarking on a UK tour.
