Trainspotting Live

Aug 23 2025 | By Emily Geeson More

★★★★★ Vitriolic

Pleasance at EICC (Venue 150b): Wed 31 July – Sun 24 Aug 2025
Review by Emily Geeson

Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. And choose watching this show. Trainspotting Live is back at the Fringe for another successful season in the tunnel under the EICC, and it packs in an absolute punch during its eighty-minute run-time.

The show itself needs little introduction – Irvine Welsh’s classic about heroin addiction in 80s Edinburgh will be familiar to almost all that set foot in this city, but Trainspotting Live is perhaps the purest way to enjoy Welsh’s creation.

A scene from Trainspotting Live. Pic: Seabright Productions.

Harry Gibson’s adaptation, after all, puts you in the heart of the action in this version originally produced by Edinburgh’s In Your Face Theatre. It creates an immersive experience with the actors demanding your attention throughout, whether entering a nightclub in full flow, or a bedsit where you can almost smell the rot. Make direct eye contact at your peril.

There’s a sense that anything can happen, and indeed it does – from the downright disgusting to the putrid and perverse. The audience are on edge of their seats throughout, and in that sense, is truer to the spirit of the book than the film: Renton can’t reach directly through your screen, and Begbie won’t insult you and your mam for not playing ball. Apparently Welsh prefers the stage version, and you can fully understand why.

The cast are absolute powerhouses, with not a single weak link amongst them. Andrew Barrett as Renton bares all (quite literally) in his descent into depravity, whereas Olivier Sublet as Begbie is more of a force of nature than a man – terrifying and thunderous whenever he sets foot on the stage.

manic energy

Greg Esplin’s Tommy counters manic energy with a fine point of emotional vulnerability that grounds the emotional beats of the show, and Alice Glass doubles as June and Alison with effortless grace to create a sense of women who have completely fallen off the edge. And Craig McDougall’s Sick Boy brings a perfect balance of menace and suave charisma to the role to fashion a terrifying monster.

The adage about Chekov’s gun remains true for this play; but instead as Chekov’s toilet. It seems that if you see a rather disgusting-looking toilet hidden amongst the seats as you enter the room, you can bet that it’s going to involve something messy by the third act. Unfortunately this Æ reviewer, drew the short straw, and found themselves seated next to the ‘Worst Toilet in Scotland.’ Not to spoil the surprise, but brace yourselves.

A vitriolic watch, Trainspotting conjures up magic to balance the sweet spot of disgust and adrenaline throughout, taking the audience on a joyride of extreme highs and torturous lows to create a masterpiece. If you think you’re brave enough, it’s an incredible watch.

Running time: One hour and 20 minutes (no interval).
Pleasance at EICC (Cromdale Tunnel), 150 Morrison Street EH3 8EE (Venue 150b).
Wednesday 31 July – Sunday 24 August 2025.
Daily (not 6, 13, 18) Various times.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Book here on EdFest.com.*