Phil McIntyre Live proudly presents
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
IRVINE WELSH’S
TRAINSPOTTING THE MUSICAL
THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET
OPENS WEDNESDAY 15 JULY 2026
TICKETS ON SALE AT 8.00AM ON TUESDAY 24 MARCH FROM
TRAINSPOTTINGTHEMUSICAL.CO.UK
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 Wednesday 15 July. Tickets are available from 8.00am on Tuesday 24 March from TrainspottingTheMusical.co.uk.
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. 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 is not just a show. It’s a moment. It’s a manifesto. It’s who we are.
CHOOSE LIFE.
Creative Team
Written by: Irvine Welsh
Director & Development: Caroline Jay Ranger
Music & Lyrics: Stephen McGuinness & Irvine Welsh
Set & Costume Designer: Colin Richmond
Musical Supervisor, Orchestrator & Music Director: Stuart Morley
Video Designer: Douglas O’Connell
Choreographer: Christina Andrea
Lighting Designer: Ian Scott
Sound Designer: Rory Madden for Sonalyst
Associate Director: Denise Ranger
Casting Director: Anne Vosser
Listings Information
Theatre Royal Haymarket
First Performance: Wednesday 15 July
Performances: Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm
Running Time: Two hours, including 20 minute interval
Age Guidance: 15+
Website: TrainspottingTheMusical.co.uk
Instagram: @Trainspottingthemusical
Facebook: /Trainspottingthemusical
Irvine Welsh
Irvine Welsh was born and raised in Edinburgh. His first novel, Trainspotting, has sold over one million copies in the UK and was adapted into an era-defining film. He has written 14 further novels, including the number one Sunday Times bestseller Dead Men’s Trousers, four books of shorter fiction and numerous plays and screenplays. Irvine Welsh currently lives between London, Edinburgh and Miami.
Stephen McGuinness
Stephen McGuinness, also known as Steve Mac, is one of the pioneering figures in UK dance music, whose productions have shaped club culture for more than three decades. After a long career creating influential house records and remixes played around the world, he is now expanding his work into theatre, television and film composition.
He first made a major impact in the mid-1990s when, at just 23, he remixed Todd Terry’s ‘Jumpin’’, which unexpectedly crossed into the UK pop charts at No.7 in 1996 – a rare achievement for a club-driven instrumental record.
As one half of the influential house duo Rhythm Masters, McGuinness produced and remixed hundreds of records that became staples of club culture worldwide. Across his career he has remixed over 400 tracks, working with artists including Michael Jackson, Barry White, Amy Winehouse, INXS, Art of Noise and Yello, to name just a few. His own productions, including ‘Paddy’s Revenge’ and ‘Lovin’ You More’, became defining club records of their era, with ‘Paddy’s Revenge’ also reaching the UK pop charts.
Alongside his recording career he founded the influential house label Jack Said What, which he runs with Irvine Welsh, Carl Loben and Rob Miller. Writing the music for Trainspotting The Musical, created with Irvine Welsh, marks the opening of a new chapter in his creative career.
Caroline Jay Ranger
Caroline moved into directing after a long career in theatre and its related forms as a performer, working with Peter Darling, Arlene Philips, Antony Van Laast, Alan Harding and Clark Peters. Throughout the 1980s she worked with music artists on videos including Nomad, Adamski, Kiss, David Grant, Jackie Graham, Queen and Freddie Mercury. Choreography includes: many rock concerts and live shows for Steve Coogan and Tim Minchin amongst others. As a performer her West End Theatre includes: Starlight Express, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Closer to Heaven and Chicago.
In 2008 she returned to study directing at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art under Sue Dunderdale and with mentor Michael Attenborough CBE. During this period she was assistant director to Matthew Warchus on God of Carnage on Broadway and Stephen Unwin at the Rose, Kingston.
Directing credits include: Steve Coogan Live UK & Australian tour, the Rod Stewart Musical Tonight’s the Night (2006 & 2014 tours), The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute (Edinburgh Festival), Love in the Time of Barriers by Hassan Abdul Razzak and Perve by Stacey Gregg (Vanburgh, RADA), Look Back in Anger by John Osborne (Rose, Southwark), The Cook and the Insurgent by Hassan Abdul Razzak (BBC3 Celebrating Sanctuary at the Southbank), Immaculate Conception by Cary Crankson (Vanburgh, RADA), Mr WH – A Forgery by Billie Brown (RADA), Marbles by Lydia Prior (Soho Theatre Project Wednesday), Staging for Tim Minchin Live Tour. Associate director to Eric Idle on Monty Python (Almost) Live (The O2, London 2014). Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse Legends Live Tour (2015).
She worked alongside John Cleese and directed the adaptation of Fawlty Towers Live which premiered in Sydney August 2016. Associate Director on the West End production of Roddy Doyle’s The Commitments Musical 2013 (The Palace Theatre) and directed The Commitments Musical for the UK tour (2016/17). Most recent directing credit include Early Doors Live 2018 by Craig Cash and Phil Mealey and consultant Director on Clive Tulloh and Joanna Lumley’s It’s All About Me UK Tour 2018/19.
After working on the early development of Only Fools and Horses The Musical she then directed its West End debut which ran at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. The final West End performance of Only Fools and Horses The Musical was on April 29th 2023 after a four year run at Theatre Royal Haymarket – making it the longest running show in the prestigious theatre’s history.
After breaking box office records in theatres around the UK in 2024, Vinnie Jones played the gangster Danny Driscoll for a limited three week season at Hammersmith Apollo – playing to over 75,500 people.
Most recently she recreated her direction with Fawlty Towers – The Play at the Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue. Playing to sold out houses. Fawlty Towers brought laughter back to the Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue in 2025 and marked the 50 year anniversary of the first episode being aired on the BBC. Fawlty Towers – The Play continues to delight sold out houses on its first UK Tour running until the end of July 2026.
Caroline has been in development working closely with Irvine Welsh, Stuart Morley, Stephen McGuinness and full creative team on the world premiere of Trainspotting The Musical which opens July 2026 at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket.