"Trainspotting: The Musical"

‘Trainspotting: The Musical’: When the Lust for Life Is Gone

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/arts/trainspotting-the-musical-review.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0FA._GRN.MwyPlUx6HJJY&smid=nytcore-android-share

MezzA101 said: "‘Trainspotting: The Musical’: When the Lust for Life Is Gone

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/arts/trainspotting-the-musical-review.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0FA._GRN.MwyPlUx6HJJY&smid=nytcore-android-share"

Brilliant film, but what a weirdly dark and grimy story to set to music. I’ll pass.

This was always a very, very odd story to make into a musical. But I was informed that Irvine Welsh doesn't own the play rights, which is very successful in the UK, so this was his way of reclaiming what he could as a mindless cash grab.

That aside, it's baffling this didn't originate in Scotland. They should have staged it in Edinburgh, had it play a season in Glasgow, and built momentum, before taking it to London.