Presented by In Your Face Theatre
Reviewed 17 February 2017
Prepare yourself for raves, violence, sex, drugs and death, all set within the Edinburgh of “Thatcher’s England” as we follow Scottish youth down the heroin rabbit hole.
This exhilarating performance of Trainspotting begins with a rave (glow sticks and all) to classics such as Darude’s much-loved electro rage, Sandstorm. This instantly throws the audience into the fun; the fun of drugs, of dancing, of sex, of not giving a flying f**k and doing whatever you want.
The first scene sets the tone of often hilarious scenarios evolving from the dysfunctional lifestyle of youthful drug addicts. Lead character Mark Renton wakes covered in diarrhoea in the bed of the girl he slept with and then has to deal with her parents at the breakfast table. It’s a shitty situation in more ways than one.
Among these laughs and seemingly humorous situations is a seeping darkness of an often violent, totally selfish, destructive reality. Gradually this darkness steals their youthful fun as the consequences of their lifestyles become increasingly horrific. The actors brilliantly convey both the humour and the bleakness of their characters’ journeys and are totally dedicated to their roles.
Trainspotting is probably one of the most interactive shows you will ever experience. Actors will fall on you, steal your drink, hit on you, drop condoms on your head, and very kindly offer you drugs (don’t stress – they’re not real). For those who know the infamous “worst toilet in Edinburgh” scene – yep, that involves the audience as well. For those who don’t… well you’re in for a surprise.
The interaction has a lot to do with the stage set-up as it isn’t anything close to what you would find in traditional theatre. It is in an underground basement (think Fight Club) with low seating surrounding a rectangular space/stage in the centre (though some seating if you’re lucky/unlucky enough is in the stage space).
At some points it is a struggle to understand what the actors are saying because they talk incredibly fast (could be due to some opening night-nerves) and the Scottish accent isn’t one of the easiest to understand, so you do have to be in a focused mind-set and pay close attention.
It is important to keep in mind that the show does follow Irvine Welsh’s MA rated novel closely and therefore includes nudity, scenes showing domestic violence, drug-taking and death, as well as swearing in just about every line. But if you prepare yourself for this you’re in for an unforgettable theatre experience.
In the spirit of Trainspotting; “Just go f******g see it you c**ts!”
Reviewed by Georgina Smerd
Twitter: @Georgie_xox
Rating out of 5: 4
Venue: Station Underground, 52-54 Hindley Street, Adelaide, 5000
Season: 18 February – 19 March
Duration: 75 minutes
Tickets: $39 – $45
Bookings: https://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/trainspotting
More News
