Trainspotting

Transferring Irvine Welsh's frank, disturbing novel to the stage is no mean feat, particularly when it already comes with a hugely popular movie in tow. Fortunately, Dan Todd makes for a convincing Mark Renton, the affable antihero forever trying to quit heroin, and despite the odd stumbled line, plays out the extended narration with great talent. From the outset, when we are greeted by his naked, filthy body, Todd’s enthusiasm for the role is infectious, making the audience feel part of Renton’s life, humour and habit, and endearing us to a character it is sometimes uncomfortable to like.

In contrast, the supporting cast are far weaker. Aside from a brilliant portrayal of Franco Begbie by Arthur Hailstones and Jordan Bergston’s Sick Boy, the remaining characters fall flat. There is talent on stage, but Todd seems to be carrying several colleagues, whose failure to lose themselves in character results in some uncharismatic, dry scenes.

Much acclaim has been given to Harry Gibson's adaptation of the novel - although its eyecatching non-linear structure, flitting between various depraved scenes in Renton's life, is in fact borrowed from Welsh's original work. The complex dynamics of the text seem to tie this production in knots: we end up with a strong start marred by a slow finish, with declining enthusiasm and clumsy set changes. That said, it's still an insightful, shocking glance into a world most of us are fortunate enough to avoid.