More than 30 years ago a Scottish writer put pen to paper and wrote a book that would change the cultural landscape forever... That writer was Irvine Welsh and the book was Trainspotting. Little did he know at the time what an impact it would have on British culture, spawning a seminal film that catapulted its little-known cast to superstardom and set the wheels in motion for many more groundbreaking books and film adaptions, turning the author into a living legend.
Now a brand-new feature documentary directed by Ray Burdis and Ian Jeffries takes us Beyond Trainspotting into The World of Irvine Welsh. The film is set for its UK debut on 28 July 2025 from Miracle Media.
After his pivotal novel Trainspotting was published in 1993, the debut work of Irvine Welsh quickly took the world by storm, spawning theatre productions, the iconic film by Danny Boyle, sequels and even an acclaimed stage musical.
The new film Beyond Trainspotting: The World of Irvine Welsh sees the celebrated scribe look back on his own story from the very beginning, shining a light on some personal tragedies he experienced along the way, and sharing how he brought his instantly recognisable and distinctly Scottish writing to the world, with its dark humour and raw and potent content.
Welsh talks candidly about his work and regales us with wild and entertaining tales of a life well lived with no holds barred, from his birth in a tenement building in Leith in 1958 to his global success as an author, that’s taken us on a journey through The Acid House to Filth and Crime, all of which have been adapted for the screen.
We hear from his friends and cohorts, who discuss the person behind the fame, with guest stars including producer Andrew Macdonald, Creation Records’ Alan McGee and the legendary rock star Iggy Pop. With appearances from Ewan McGregor, Johnny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, Danny Boyle, Martin Compston, Gail Porter and Brit-pop alumni such as Lisa Moorish, Kirsty Allison, Primal Scream’s Bobby Gilespie, Happy Mondays’ Rowetta and many more.
Take a trip with Irvine Welsh into his world of creativity, gritty reality and the highs and lows of a truly talented icon.
