Famous play’s return will be the talk of The Steamie
One of Scotland’s best- loved plays returns to the stage in Ayr later this month with a star- studded cast.
The Steamie is celebrating its 30th anniversary and heads to Ayr’s Gaiety Theatre on Monday, September 25.
Leading the line- up is Libby McArthur, best known for her role as Gina Rossi in River City.
Through a varied career, she has taken part in John Peel’s radio sessions, appeared on The Tube with Jools Holland and starred alongside a host of stars such as Liam Neeson, Ford Kiernan, Johnny Beattie and Robert Carlyle.
Joining her is fellow River City star Carmen Pieraccini, as Magrit. Carmen has played Kelly Marie Adams in River City since 2003, with a break between 2007 and 2010.
She has also appeared in films Small Faces and Late Night Shopping and a music video for Belle & Sebastian, the legendary indie- pop group led by Ayr man Stuart Murdoch.
Mary McCusker is back reprising the role of Mrs Culfeathers from the 2012 performance.
After training at the RSAMD Mary co- founded the Monstrous Regiment Theatre Company and has appeared all over Scotland and the UK with leading roles in a number of famous plays.
Steven McNicoll, who stars as Andy, wrote and starred in seven series of BBC sketch show Velvet Soup on radio and later television, earning him a BAFTA nomination. He is also known as playing the young Rab C Nesbitt in the Scottish comedy series as well as appearing in Sanjeev Kohli’s Sony Award winning BBC Radio 4 sitcom Fags, Mags and Bags.
Fiona Wood, known for roles in films Money Kills and Sketchland, returns as Doreen after a successful run in 2012.
Producer Neil Laidlaw is back for the third time, and said: “The Steamie is one of the greatest Scottish plays – I’m extremely proud to have had the opportunity to be associated with it in the past and am now even more excited to be producing this 30th Anniversary celebration.
“We’ve brought together a fantastic cast of actors. I can’t wait to get into the rehearsal room and see another cast having a ball getting to know this play.”
Writer and comedian Tony Roper first put pen to paper on the wash house comedy in the 1980s.
He said: “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.”
The Steamie comes to Ayr’s Gaiety Theatre on Monday, September 25.
For tickets call 01292 288235.