Found, quite literally underground, beneath the excitable streets of Edinburgh, the Trainspotting cast are cooking up for yet another impressive run of their immersive production. Returning to their hometown following sell-out shows in London, Edinburgh and a UK tour, the familiar faces of the cast seem to have developed an inexhaustible stamina from their continuing success.
Stepping into the dank, drug scene of late 1980s Edinburgh, the lifestyle chosen through heroin addiction is presented in this unrestricted, and oddly, expositional show. Living below the expectations of society is no easy feat as this full time occupation is far more demanding. Through the conversational style of Irvine Welsh’s writing, Renton (Gavin Ross), Begbie (Chris Dennis) and Sick Boy (Michael Lockerbie) plunge the audience in, pull back a tiny drop of their discomfort into their syringe, before injecting a life giving, breathtaking experience.
Energetic from the first bass drop, the show’s veteran performers appear to be immune to fatigue, performing every motion with untiring tenacity. Newcomer Michael Lockerbie gives a commendable attempt to keep up as Sick Boy, however is noticeably less seasoned than his cast mates, appearing to be slightly more reserved in his execution. Exposing every inch of their acting capabilities, show spearheads Gavin Ross and Greg Esplin give soberingly expert performances, whilst Calum Barbour's versatility is a narcotic in itself.
In Your Face Theatre and King’s Head Theatre’s high-energy, dignity defiling dose of dark comedy is an unstoppable force that continues to splatter the realities of addiction, the sorrow of its decline, and far more unspeakable material onto the faces of its awestruck audiences.
Times: 3-29 August, 6pm & 8.30pm
Tickets: £10 - £15