The Steamie inspired Scot Squad star Louise McCarthy to become an actor – and drove her to quit when she didn’t land a part in it.
Luckily, the 34-year-old decided to return to the profession. And now she’s starring in the play about women in a Glasgow wash house in the 50s.
Yesterday, the cast was revealed for the biggest ever performances of Tony Roper’s classic slice of theatre.
The Steamie will be performed five times at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow over four days leading up to December 31.
Joining Louise will be River City’s Gayle Telfer Stevens – her partner in double act The Dolls.
They make their Steamie debuts playing the feisty Magrit and gullible Dolly respectively.
Fiona Wood returns to the show for the third time to portray the young, full of hope Doreen, while Mary McCusker reprises the poignant role of Mrs Culfeathers.
(Image: Alan Peebles)
Harry Ward joins the cast as the lovable drunk handyman Andy.
Landing the role performed by Dorothy Paul in the 1987 stage play is third time lucky for Louise, who was born in Maryhill, Glasgow.
The actress, who is best known as DC Andrea McGill in Scot Squad, said: “The Steamie is that one job that got away and then came back again – the job that made me want to be an actor and quit being an actor when I lost out on a part in it a few years back. I was beyond devastated.
“I remember thinking, ‘If I can’t do my dream job or be good enough to be cast in it, then I shouldn’t be an actress and I should give up’.
“The first time I auditioned for the part of Doreen was in 2009 and I didn’t get it.
“For the audition, I flew to Glasgow from France, where I was on holiday with my parents. I was pure skint.
“I was boarding the plane to go back to France when I got the call to say I didn’t get it. I was pure greetin’ the whole way home and thought I should quit.
“I sobbed for weeks over it and it wasn’t until my mum sat me down, handed me a voddie and Diet Coke and told me to get over myself, pull my socks up and go back out there and try again.
(Image: Alan Peebles)
“I clearly remember her saying the good old-fashioned Glasgow phrase: “Whit’s fur ye’ll no’ go by ye” and now I see she was right.”
Louise added: “I auditioned for the part of Doreen again in 2011 and didn’t get it. So this is third time lucky.
“It makes the heartache of losing out on it all those years ago worth it.”
Rab C Nesbitt star Roper wrote The Steamie in the 80s with the comedy’s songs written by David Anderson.
It’s an ode to the hard-working women of the 50s and to a bygone Glasgow.
The young Doreen envisions a new future, while Mrs Culfeathers looks back to the past – the play is a snapshot of a time and a cross-section of strong women. No wonder it means so much to female actors.
Louise said: “It’s an absolute honour to be part of this show’s legacy and one I will cherish forever.
“I watch the show religiously every Hogmanay and when I was first introduced to it at seven, I would watch it over and over again until I got Magrit’s ‘Isn’t it wonderful to be a woman’ speech just right. I knew every word, every action.
“It was my wee party piece for all my ma’s pals. Now I get to do all of it live in front on thousands of people.
(Image: Robin Mitchell)
“Words can’t even express what that means. My friends from Still Game tell me it’s going to be the biggest buzz of my life.”
Tony has revamped the show with more songs, more music and more laughs. Due to popular demand, an extra show, on December 28, has been added. It also means that for the first time, The Steamie – which is set at Hogmanay – will be performed professionally on New Year’s Eve.
Tony, 77, who will also direct his play, is thrilled The Steamie is on at the 12,000-capacity Hydro.
But he’s amazed that it’s still so popular.
He said: “In my late 40s, I sat down with a Biro and a jotter and wrote my first ever play. Over three decades later, the play is still getting the laughs and the cries, connecting with another generation of Scots.”
Tony insisted the play that people remember won’t be tampered with. But he will add more songs and there will be some dance numbers and a bigger cast – which won’t be the first time as the character list was extended for the TV version of it.
The play was first performed at the Crawford Theatre in Glasgow in 1987 when the cast were Elaine C Smith as Dolly, Dorothy Paul as Magrit, Katy Murphy as Doreen, Ida Schuster as Mrs Culfeathers and Jay Jeffries as Andy.
(Image: Daily Record)
A version was made by Scottish Television for Hogmanay 1988, with Dorothy Paul and Katy Murphy reprising their stage characters. Eileen McCallum played Dolly, Sheila Donald was Mrs Culfeathers and Peter Mullan took the role of Andy.
In 2012, there was a 25th anniversary tour, with a 30th anniversary tour in 2017.
Gayle Telfer Stevens, 38, who plays Caitlin in River City, was also inspired to become an actress by The Steamie.
She said: “Since I first saw the Steamie as a wean, I’ve always wanted to be in it and to play Dolly. This is the show that made me want to be a performer, so to finally put the pinny on, to become part of The Steamie legacy and to play the SSE Hydro is a lifelong dream come true and more.”
While it’s Gayle’s first time doing The Steamie, Mary McCusker, from the Gorbals, played Mrs Culfeathers on the 30th anniversary tour.
The actress, 73, remembers going to a steamie with her mum when she was a girl.
She said: “I just wish my mammie could be there this Hogmanay but I’ll do it for her anyway.
“It’s the play but with more music and dancers. Move over Beyonce – Mrs C is getting her sequins.”
The Steamie at the SSE Hydro, runs from December 28 until December 31 (with shows at 1pm and 5.50pm on Hogmanay). Tickets from thessehydro.com/events or call the box office on 0844 395 4000.
