30 Steamie years
The Steamie for 30th anniversary tour, 2017
Tony Roper’s hugely popular comedy, The Steamie, is to play the Edinburgh King’s in November 2017 as part of a nine week, 30th anniversary tour.
Roper will be directing the production, which sets out from Kirkcaldy’s Adam Smith theatre on September 6, although casting has yet to be announced.
The show has become something of a modern classic of Scottish theatre, billed as Scotland’s favourite play and such a success on the amateur dramatic circuit that productions start selling out as soon as they are announced.
Set a 1950s Old Year’s Night, in the last days of the Glasgow wash-houses, it sees Dolly, Magrit, Doreen and Mrs Culfeathers attempting to get their washing done before they have to return home for the bells.
Part of the show’s attraction is the way it remembers and honours what was good about a time in our history – while keeping a very clear view of what was not so good about it. And there again, it is stuffed with outrageously memorable riffs on 1950s life from each of the characters.
laughter and tears
Speaking of the show, Roper says: “In my late forties I sat down with a biro and a jotter and wrote my first ever play. Thirty years have since passed and The Steamie is still there, giving laughter and tears and touching that intangible something in an audience that has made it a favourite night out.”
After opening in Kirkcaldy, the 2017 production will tour to the show will tour to His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, Dundee Rep Theatre, Ayr Gaiety, Eden Court Inverness, the Macrobert Arts Centre Stirling and the Kings Theatre Glasgow before arriving at the Edinburgh Kings.
The Steamie was originally produced by Wildcat Stage Productions, and has songs by David Anderson. It sold out its original six month run in 1987, the Scottish Television adaptation which was filmed at the old Cowcaddens studios won a Scottish Bafta, and it has toured around the world – including a sell-out 25th anniversary Scottish tour.
Listings
The Steamie
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ.
Mon 6 – Sat 11 November 2017
Evenings: 7.30pm; Matinees Weds, Sat: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: http://www.edtheatres.com/steamie
| The Steamie on tour 2017: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 6 – Sat 9 Sept | Kirkcaldy Adam Smith Theatre |
01592 583302 | Book online |
| Tue 12 – Sat 16 Sept | Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre |
01224 641122 | Book online |
| Mon 18 – Sat 23 Sept | Dundee Rep |
01382 223530 | Book online |
| Tue 26 – Sat 30 Sept | Ayr Gaiety |
01292 288235 | Book online |
| Mon 2 – Sat 7 Oct | Inverness Eden Court |
01463 234 234 | Book online |
| Tue 10 – Sat 14 Oct | Stirling MacRobert Arts Centre |
01786 466666 | Book online |
| Mon 23 Oct – Sat 4 Nov | Glasgow King’s Theatre |
0844 871 7648 | Book online |
| Mon 6 – Sat 11 Nov | Edinburgh King’s Theatre |
0131 529 6000 | Book online |
