Tony Roper turned 85 on 19 August while rehearsing The Steamie, and he says this will be his last time directing the play. The production opens at Dundee Rep Theatre on 27 August before moving across Scotland later this month.
Roper and The Steamie
The play first reached audiences almost 40 years ago, and Roper’s return gives the new run a clear handover point. He said: "I don't know whether to be sad or glad that it's the last time directing it. I'll be glad-sad. S-Glad. It's been almost exactly 40 years since The Steamie was first performed and a lot has changed since then, but what hasn't changed is what and who The Steamie represents. Community, friendship, aspirations, the unbeatable Scottish humour presented truthfully and women presented faithfully for their often ignored worth to the various communities throughout the land. I'm incredibly proud to see it still resonate with audiences so many years later and look forward to our outstanding new cast continuing to provide what The Steamie has done for so long - a pal to laugh with, a shoulder to cry on and true companionship."
Set in a 1950s Glasgow washhouse on Hogmanay, the play follows Magrit, Dolly, Doreen and Mrs Culfeathers as they get through the final wash of the year. Songs by David Anderson remain part of the production’s draw, and the move from rehearsal room to tour keeps the show tied to a format that has lasted for decades rather than a single venue run.
Louise McCarthy and Ryan Dewar
Louise McCarthy is back as an actor and producer, after starring in the 2019 Hydro production. She said: "As an audience It's something that's been passed down through generations, from my Gran to my Mum and now to me, and that's what makes it so special. To be part of telling that story. And with this being Tony's final time directing, it feels even more meaningful to be involved."
Ryan Dewar, who was live camera director and associate director of the 2019 Hydro production, said: "When Louise and I sat down to discuss the idea of bringing back The Steamie, we ate some mince and tatties, drank creamola foam and took a whiff of Carbolic Soap before both landing on the same thought: how do we share these memories with the next generation? That's what we're most excited about, introducing this tour with the play everyone loves, while welcoming new audiences alongside those who've cherished it for generations before."
August and Scotland
The tour goes to Ayr, Stirling, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Pitlochry, Dunfermline and Glasgow after the Dundee opening. That gives the production a broad Scotland run, and it also means Roper’s final directing pass is not being staged as a one-off farewell but as a travelling reset for a play that still has enough audience pull to move from city to city.
