A musical heading to Sunderland in February has been cancelled just weeks ahead of its scheduled UK tour launch.

Trainspotting The Musical is no longer touring the UK after its current West End run at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket, which finishes on September 5.

The stage adaptation, written by original author Irvine Welsh alongside Stephen McGuinness, was due to arrive at the Sunderland Empire in February 2027.

Producers Phil McIntyre Live Limited said in a statement: "The forthcoming UK tour of Trainspotting The Musical, which was due to begin on 19 October, has been cancelled.

The UK tour of Trainspotting The Musical has been cancelled just weeks before its scheduled launch, ending its planned residency in Sunderland in February.

placeholder image — The UK tour of Trainspotting The Musical has been cancelled just weeks before its scheduled launch, ending its planned residency in Sunderland in February.

"We are very grateful to our cast, crew and creative team for their dedication to the production, but the current economic climate has resulted in lower than expected ticket sales.

“Ticketholders will be contacted by their point of purchase with full refund details.

“We apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment this may cause.”

Based on the original 1993 novel, and marking 30 years since Danny Boyle's 1996 film adaptation, the musical revisits working-class antiheroes Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud, Tommy, and Kelly.

In a statement back in April, Irvine said: “I believe the musical has a bigger, loudly beating human heart than either the book or the film.

"People need to think about the world we’re living in, and we offer that inspection, but they also really need to sing their hearts out and laugh their heads off – it’s what being human is all about.”

Taking to social media, resident director Kieran Brown said: "Playhouse has been stuck at 19% ticket sales. 19%…If people don’t want it, they don’t want it – regardless of where it opened.”