Review: Trainspotting at Theatre Royal Ramsbottom

“…relentless, chaotic, visceral and immense…”

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh adapted by Harry Gibson, Theatre Royal Ramsbottom

By Claire Walmsley

‘Trainspotting’ is billed as an immersive theatre experience – one which promised to thrill and shock, and it did not disappoint. It was brave, unflinching and provocative.

Having never read the book, nor seen the film, I went without knowing more than the basic plot. I’ve since learned the play is truer to the book than the film, with the performance staying truer to the treacherous journey into addiction and the personal consequences of such life choices.

Arriving at Ramsbottom theatre, I was given a glowstick to indicate I was seated in the immersive row. I must admit, I had no idea what to expect and was filled with nerves and excitement! Just before the show, one of the characters burst into the bar to lead us round the outside of the building to a side door. We queued for the ‘club’ with a bouncer on the door and the music was pumping. Heading up the stairs, the walls were graffitied and gave the impression of an underground nightclub. I really liked how the experience started even before the show did! The performance studio was a small, dark room with seats along two of the walls and benches in front of them. The cast were already in the middle partying to some classic tracks. They interacted in character with the audience, guiding them to their seats and, when we were all in, the doors shut and it began.

The basic story is a group of friends and their spiral into addiction. It’s more a series of chaotic snapshots of their lives rather than a neat storyline but it works incredibly well. It was raw, gritty and relentless – definitely an experience.

Whilst the original story is set in Scotland, this adaptation was set in Manchester, which connected the story with the audience. There were references to Manchester landmarks and towns throughout.

As the major theme of the story is drug addiction and the subsequent HIV epidemic, a timeline of the facts and figures was cleverly woven into the performance. There was a particularly powerful moment when several cast members were reciting a list of people who had died from drug-related HIV in a month in Manchester hospitals.

You’re taken on an emotional rollercoaster as the tone shifts rapidly from comedy to tragic realism in the blink of an eye. One moment you’re laughing at the misuse of vapour rub (fellas, you’ll wince at that one!) and the next your heart aches watching a sixteen-year-old girl beg for drugs so she can no longer feel anything, or holding back tears as Ali howls that her baby is dead. This constant pull from extreme emotions is incredibly powerful and what makes the performance so authentic.

Being such a small, intimate space, there were limited props or set – a bed, a couch and a bar – but the clever use of lighting and sound brought it to life. The portrayal of drug use was expertly done – the performers were committed and it felt incredibly real.  The cast were so close to you that you were drawn in. At one point, rioters clashed with the riot police about 10cm from my feet – the bricks thrown almost landed on my lap.

The cast were absolutely brilliant. Every single one of them was outstanding. Tommy’s spiral into addiction was expertly played by Cameron Watson (though my one small wish was to see more of this).  Simon ‘Sick Boy’ (played by Connor James Ryan) was fabulous. His monologue was frank and hard-hitting. His interactions with the audience were spot on too. Ali (played by Gemma Walker) was exceptional. She shifted from comedy to the tragic with ease, but you could always see the pain and inner turmoil bubbling below the surface. Her performance was stand-out and uncompromising – she fully embraced the raw vulnerability of self-harm, trauma and addiction. You could feel her pain radiating and, with such an intimate venue, there was nowhere to hide. Mark Renton (played by Stephen Davies) was equally amazing. His frank and honest speeches were moving and his decline into addiction was raw and harrowing. Davies pulled you in from the start with his “Choose Life” speech and the intensity continued throughout.

The immersive nature of the performance was a new experience for me and it was exceptional. The interactions never felt forced or awkward – it felt natural and organic throughout. You felt everything – the emotions, the highs, the lows and even the toilet water! Everyone in the audience was a good sport and my own interaction with Renton was funny and well improvised.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to see this performance. It was relentless, chaotic, visceral and immense. It forced the audience to confront uncomfortable truths and being set in Manchester made it hit even closer to home. I cannot recommend this experience enough. It was phenomenal and something I will be thinking about for a long time.

Trainspotting plays at Theatre Royal Ramsbottom until Saturday 02 August. Tickets are available here.

Claire Walmsley is a children’s author who pays the bills by teaching computer science to primary school pupils in Manchester. When she’s not writing, reading or fixing all the broken laptops at work, she likes to run and hike. As a long-term sufferer of Crohn’s Disease, she is always trying to inspire the next generation of chronic illness sufferers. You can find her first picture book here. Or follow Claire Walmsley – Children’s Author on all the socials.