Trainspotting, the shockingly funny cult play that inspired a movie sensation, returns to the stage 10 years after its premiere. Adapted and directed for the stage by Harry Gibson, from the novel by Irvine Welsh - the story follows Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie embarking on an horrific journey to the heart of a hell hole world peopled by psychos, junkies, wide-boys and no-hopers. "This is the play of Irvine Welsh's original book. I read a first edition and we had it on stage [at The Glasgow Citz's] nine months later," said Gibson. "We revived it six months later in a bigger studio and it sold out again. That was the one which Danny Boyle [the movie's director] and his team came to see, but naturally a play and a film are two different animals. "One big difference between the play and the film - apart from the fact that the play just uses one set and four actors and you can smell it happening in front of you - is that the movie ends up being the hero's getaway. "The play stays with the trainspotters, left standing in the ruined old Leith railway station waiting for trains that will never come to get them away from it all. Irvine liked that ending. Truer to life," he added. Theatrical debut The stage revival stars Edinburgh-born Peter Milne as Mark Renton, the role made famous in the film by Ewan McGregor. It is Peter's first professional theatrical engagement. "I think it's a dream for any Scottish actor to play this part. It's a gritty role, it's something to get my teeth into as an actor and something I can really work with. It's a great character to play," said Milne.  | | Peter Milne as Mark Renton |
"The play is much darker as a whole than the film – that's because they had to appeal to a mainstream audience. Ewan McGregor had quite a hard job I think as he had to make him likeable in some way. "I don't think he is. Renton's not a nice guy in any way... at least that's my perception of him. "When you read the book you realise that as well – that he's a much darker and savage character. I did feel pressure [of performing a role made famous by Ewan McGregor], but at the end of the day this is a play as opposed to a film so Renton can be a lot darker – and he is," added Milne. True to life Milne admits that the humour in the piece rings true to life. "There is a lot of Scottish humour and reality there. Things that I've seen being back in my home town in Edinburgh, things that do ring true, and Welsh is a very good writer obviously," said Milne. "It's entertaining, it's funny as well as heartbreaking – it's a great story that you can come away from with something to talk about. It hits on every emotional level and that's the beauty of the play," he added. Test of time Although the book by Irvine Welsh is now more than a decade old, Milne feels the work is still relevant today. "Heroin is still something that is relevant. I think the story is still as relevant, it still echoes things about that time and about those people, things that are still relevant today. "These problems haven't gone away and as for people thinking that it [Trainspotting] glamorises heroin addiction – it really doesn't. It's quite the opposite," he added. Trainspotting can be seen at the Theatre Royal Bath between Monday 22 to Saturday 27 May 2006. This production contains nudity and scenes that may shock. It is not suitable for children under the age of 16. | 
