Thirty years on from the film that changed everything and following its World Premiere in London’s West End (where you can currently see it), Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting The Musical will embark on a major UK tour, opening at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 19 October 2026.
Written by Irvine Welsh, adapted from his best-selling debut novel, and directed and developed by Caroline Jay Ranger, the West End production has just opened allowing a first look at the production ahead of its tour.
Meet Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud, Tommy and Kelly… Renton, played in the film by Ewan McGregor, is being played by Lewis Kidd in the West End following an injury to Robbie Scott, who will now join the production as Renton for tour. They are 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.
Here’s a first look of them in action…
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.
Commenting on the return of his industrial drug-crazed working-class heroes of British youth culture, Irvine Welsh says, “I believe the musical has a bigger, loudly 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.”
TRAINSPOTTING THE MUSICAL 2026/2027 TOUR DATES
19-24 October Edinburgh Playhouse | 27-31 October Sheffield City Hall | 3-7 November Manchester Palace Theatre | 10-14 York Grand Opera House | 17-21 November Hull New Theatre | 25-28 November Ipswich Regent Theatre | 1-5 December Birmingham Alexandra | 8-12 December Leeds Grand | 15-19 December Blackpool Opera House | 5-9 January Stoke Regent Theatre |11-16 January Aberdeen His Majesty’s | 19-23 January Nottingham Theatre Royal | 26–30 January Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre | 2-6 February Southend Cliffs Pavilion | 9-13 February Bradford Live | 16-20 February Oxford New Theatre | 23-27 February Sunderland Empire | 2-6 March Dunfermline Alhambra Theatre | 9-13 March Brighton Dome | 15-20 March Glasgow Theatre Royal
Full details and tickets HERE
