Dragged Tae The Steamie

Dragged tae The Steamie is a presentation of Tony Roper's Scottish comedy classic - The Steamie but with a twist - The four lead female characters and solo male will be played by actors in drag .

One Hogmanay in the 1950s four Glasgow women of various ages and personalities gather in the local wash-house (or 'steamie') to do their last laundry of the year.

They share memories and jokes, talk about their menfolk and hopes for the future.

It is sad, nostalgic, and very, very funny.

So how did Dragged Tae The Steamie come to be ?

In 1996 a young Ayrshire boy first saw The Steamie and was mesmerised by these four strong Glasgow women doing there Hogmanay washing. That boy then went on to become an actor, drag performer and 'One of Scotland's finest Panto Dames ' taking inspiration and strength from those characters. Fast forward 25 years and he is sitting in a cafe bar in Glasgow's Merchant city across from Tony Roper seeking permission to stage his iconic work in the world’s oldest surviving music hall - The Britannia Panopticon, Glasgow but there is a twist, this boy doesn't want to play the masochistic drunken handy man Andy - He dreams of playing the strong willed, tough as nails (but with a strong heart) character of Magrit. The woman who has inspired him with her quick wit , no nonsense attitude and heart ( so much so that he specifically channelled her to play Widow Twankey the year he was named as 'One of Scotland's finest panto dames ' and went on to create the character of Clean Jean as part of his cabaret act - Clean Jean is a mix of Magrit and Dolly from the Steamie along with a wonderful woman in his hometown plus the other ' women up a close ' he has met over the years ) . Tony eventually said yes after asking a few questions - probably the same questions you have reading this - Why do it with Drag performers?

The answer is simple but has two sides. Firstly, drag has become popular again and a drag production of The Steamie would open up this amazing show to new audiences but secondly Grant knows he is not the only Scottish actor / Drag performer who has been inspired and looked up to these women. Grant's passion for this play and these characters convinced Tony that his show is in safe hands and we hope you enjoy this Scottish classic and our new take on it as we turn the sexism and Misogyny on its head .

If you want to come and see me - Get DRAGGED TAE THE STEAMIE

Host or Publisher The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall