Trainspotting turned into an American play

By ANGUS HOWARTH
Published on 20/09/2012 00:00

THE quintessentially Scottish anti-heroes of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting are being given a US makeover in a new play.

One of the most iconic scenes of Danny Boyle’s film, based on the hit novel, showed Begbie, Renton and co robbing an American tourist in the toilet of an Edinburgh pub.

But now those characters will become Americans themselves in a play which will have its world premiere at Chicago’s Theatre Wit next month.

Welsh, 53, who moved to the US two years ago, said recently: “Some characters like Renton and Sick Boy worked very well. Spud also went well.

“[But] Begbie was a difficult one because I think that the whole nature and culture of the way violence is expressed is very different in Scotland than in America.

“American psychopaths are very quiet, and for a Scottish psychopath it’s difficult to make [that transition].”

Welsh has written additional material for the new play. “We tried to mould it to the culture’s landscape,” he said. “They go down to Mexico and all that, have a drug deal down there with prescription drugs. To me it feels very American.”

Trainspotting was previously adapted for the stage by Harry Gibson, and won the Sunday Times award for best new play in 1995.

Welsh worked with award-winning director Tom Mullen to adapt the story for the US. It will run from 13 October to 2 December.

Meanwhile, the author is preparing for the release of his new novel, Skagboys, which is a prequel to Trainspotting.