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The Steamie
When it first opened in 1987, The Steamie took the theatrical world by storm. Set in 1950, the play takes place on Hogmanay in a Glasgow public wash house or 'Steamie'. As the washing is done, four women sing, laugh and cry their way through the last working day of that year, with a little help from the increasingly not so handy Andy.
Portraying a way of life in the midst of change, The Steamie fast became a firm favourite with people of all ages up and down the land and, to this day, its popularity shows no signs of waning. Half a century on, the way we work may have changed but, whenever the play is staged, it can still strike a chord of recognition in members of the audience and have them rolling in the aisles with laughter one moment and wiping away a tear the next.
The novel The Steamie delves further into the lives of Doreen, Magrit, Mrs Culfeather and Dolly. It also brings some of the lively characters that only get a passing mention in the play more to the forefront. As the women get on with their washing, we eavesdrop on Magrit's man who has her 'up to high doh' most of the time as he will 'neither work nor want'. We come to understand why the bad behaviour of her two laddies will be the death of her. And we also meet her daughter who, happily for Magrit, is a lovely wee lassie and provides welcome relief from the troubles the males in her family are always bringing her. We are introduced to Mrs Culfeather's husband, Harry. Over the years, life hasn't treated Harry very kindly but he reminds us that there can be laughter in spite of the struggle that was life in those days. Then there's Doreen's other half, John, and, last but certainly not least, Dolly's family also make an appearance.
The Steamie is a hilarious yet, at times, also deeply moving cameo of Glasgow's social history. The washing was always easier to do when joys and sorrows were shared and, of course, time passed much more quickly when the supply of scandalous gossip was as endless as the pile of dirty clothes!
Portraying a way of life in the midst of change, The Steamie fast became a firm favourite with people of all ages up and down the land and, to this day, its popularity shows no signs of waning. Half a century on, the way we work may have changed but, whenever the play is staged, it can still strike a chord of recognition in members of the audience and have them rolling in the aisles with laughter one moment and wiping away a tear the next.
The novel The Steamie delves further into the lives of Doreen, Magrit, Mrs Culfeather and Dolly. It also brings some of the lively characters that only get a passing mention in the play more to the forefront. As the women get on with their washing, we eavesdrop on Magrit's man who has her 'up to high doh' most of the time as he will 'neither work nor want'. We come to understand why the bad behaviour of her two laddies will be the death of her. And we also meet her daughter who, happily for Magrit, is a lovely wee lassie and provides welcome relief from the troubles the males in her family are always bringing her. We are introduced to Mrs Culfeather's husband, Harry. Over the years, life hasn't treated Harry very kindly but he reminds us that there can be laughter in spite of the struggle that was life in those days. Then there's Doreen's other half, John, and, last but certainly not least, Dolly's family also make an appearance.
The Steamie is a hilarious yet, at times, also deeply moving cameo of Glasgow's social history. The washing was always easier to do when joys and sorrows were shared and, of course, time passed much more quickly when the supply of scandalous gossip was as endless as the pile of dirty clothes!
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2004
About the author
Tony Roper
7 books2 followersTony Roper is a Scottish actor, comedian, playwright and writer.
His first major starring role was in Scotch and Wry. He wrote the comedy-drama The Steamie in 1988, for which he won a BAFTA. He achieved even greater fame in The Naked Video and in the spin-off series Rab C. Nesbitt, in which he played Rab's partner-in-crime, Jamesie Cotter. He also starred in the short-lived 1999 sitcom All Along the Watchtower. Tony also had a small part as the postman in the longer version of the 1973 cult film, The Wicker Man.
His first major starring role was in Scotch and Wry. He wrote the comedy-drama The Steamie in 1988, for which he won a BAFTA. He achieved even greater fame in The Naked Video and in the spin-off series Rab C. Nesbitt, in which he played Rab's partner-in-crime, Jamesie Cotter. He also starred in the short-lived 1999 sitcom All Along the Watchtower. Tony also had a small part as the postman in the longer version of the 1973 cult film, The Wicker Man.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 21, 2013
A follow up from the famous play - The Steamie. A snap shot of a by gone era of Glasgow life in the late 50's. loved it!
September 15, 2020
I enjoyed this story of a time long ago when community meant more and communal washing places were the norm. At that time in Glasgow ship building was the big employer and pubs were where the men went to unwind (get blootered) and lose their week’s wages. The Steamie was where the womenfolk met for a blether and a gossip and carried on their hard work sometimes undertaking other folks washing (those who could afford to pay and hadn’t quite got the hang of the new laundrettes or got round to buying their own washing machine ...just fir posh folk, that).
Tony Roper writes his women’s voices very well, belligerent Magrit hiding a soft heart, upwardly mobile (given half a chance) Doreen, the sad Mrs Culfeather who has never seen her grandchildren and Dolly kind-hearted but never knowingly shuts up. There are men of course, husbands, with their own tale but his voice is stronger for the women.
Apart from a silly bit involving a barbers pole it is a story about life in 1950’s Glasgow and how important the Steamie was to the community, and not just for washing clothes.
Tony Roper writes his women’s voices very well, belligerent Magrit hiding a soft heart, upwardly mobile (given half a chance) Doreen, the sad Mrs Culfeather who has never seen her grandchildren and Dolly kind-hearted but never knowingly shuts up. There are men of course, husbands, with their own tale but his voice is stronger for the women.
Apart from a silly bit involving a barbers pole it is a story about life in 1950’s Glasgow and how important the Steamie was to the community, and not just for washing clothes.
August 10, 2020
Brilliant
The 'mince story' is to my mind a classic from the stage play of The Steamie. It is well told here as Tony Roper also fills out the backgrounds of the women involved .
The 'mince story' is to my mind a classic from the stage play of The Steamie. It is well told here as Tony Roper also fills out the backgrounds of the women involved .
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews