The Steamie

The Steamie is a comedy-drama stage play, written by Tony Roper.[1] It is set on Hogmanay 1950 and provides a window on the lives and aspirations of a group of Glasgow women washing their clothes in a public washhouse (steamie). It was commissioned by Borderline Theatre in the early 1980s and first staged by Wildcat at the Crawfurd Theatre, Glasgow in 1987.[2][3]

The Steamie
Souvenir programme for the 30th anniversary production in 2017. Design by Donovan Graphics Ltd.
GenreComedy drama
Written byTony Roper
Directed byHaldane Duncan
StarringEileen McCallum
Dorothy Paul
Katy Murphy
Sheila Donald
Peter Mullan
Caroline Paterson
ComposerDave Anderson
Country of originScotland
Original languageContemporary Scots
Production
Executive producerRobert Love
ProducersSandy Ross
Haldane Duncan
Production locationsGlasgow, Scotland
CinematographyBilly Morton
Alan Nicol
Running time78 minutes,
49 seconds
Production companyScottish Television
Release
Original networkScottish Television (STV)
Original release31 December 1988 (1988-12-31)

A television version was made by Scottish Television for Hogmanay 1988.[4] It gained immediate popularity, and has been repeated many times over the years.[5] It starred Dorothy Paul, Eileen McCallum, Katy Murphy, Sheila Donald, Faye Milligan and Peter Mullan.[6] Future EastEnders cast member Caroline Paterson also made an appearance.[7] Haldane Duncan co-produced and directed it.[6] A novelisation, also by Roper, was published in 2005.[8]

The Steamie came second in an online poll for the television 'list' show STV's Top 30 Best Loved Shows,[9] shown on Saturday 3 January 2009. The following day, a short documentary - The Steamie Story was broadcast on STV, marking the 21st anniversary of its first TV transmission. This was followed by the show itself. The Steamie is available to view in full on the STV Player[10] in Scotland.

A 30th anniversary touring production with a cast comprising Libby McArthur, Mary McCusker, Steven McNicoll, Carmen Pieraccini and Fiona Wood was first performed at the Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy on 6 September 2017.

In 2022 the first authorised drag staging of the play was presented at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall in Glasgow . This production was directed by Finlay McLay starred Stewart W Fraser / Sally Starshine as Mrs Culfeathers , Grant F Kidd / Auntie Effie as Magrit , James T Smith / Nomi Divine as Doreen , Jim Dickson as Dolly and Kirsty Whyte / Roxy Stardust as Andy .

In 2023 the production embarked on a Scottish national tour with the majority of the 2022 cast with Darren Brownlie replacing Jim Dickson as Dolly .

Critical reception

Of the stage version, The Scotsman opined, "The play has a kind of hilarious perfection"; while in the Daily Mail, Jack Tinker wrote, "The four Glaswegian biddies who rub, scrub and gossip their way...one Hogmanay eve back in the fifties create a clubbable camaraderie from their labours in a way entirely lacking today...Hearts are worn on rolled-up sleeves. It is impossible not to adore every rose-tinted minute."[11]

References
  1. Topping, Kirsty (19 March 2012). "Jane McCarry shows she's still game for Steamie role". Deadline. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  2. "Review: The Steamie is Tony Roper's love note to Scottish culture". Glasgow Times.
  3. McMillan, Joyce (2017), The Steamie, Souvenir Programme for the 30th Anniversary Production, 28th August 2017
  4. "Issue of the day: The Steamie". HeraldScotland.
  5. Russell, Jennifer (31 December 2017). "Get your Hogmanay off to the perfect start with The Steamie tonight". GlasgowLive.
  6. "The Steamie (1988)". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017.
  7. McIver, Brian (11 February 2010). "When I walked on to EastEnders set I felt like only actress in cast of real people, says Caroline Paterson". Daily Record.
  8. "The Steamie". www.goodreads.com.
  9. "stv's Top 30 Best Loved Shows". stv.tv. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  10. "The Steamie". STV Player. 3 January 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  11. "The Steamie - Scottish plays - National Library of Scotland". digital.nls.uk.


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