The Steamie

The Steamie is at the King's Theatre (Studio Theatre) on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October, two evenings and a matinee. It's a Scottish classic that's been around since Wildcat first staged it in 1987, and for many it's one of the country's most cherished theatrical treasures.

The play is set in a communal Glasgow washhouse on a Hogmanay evening in the mid-1950s. It follows four post-war housewives as they tackle the final wash of the year, treading blankets and using carbolic soap while their conversation drifts from the hilariously mundane to the deeply poignant, with the local handyman Andy popping in now and then. The songs, written by David Anderson, date back to before rock'n'roll hit Scotland, and the play has long been a staple of Scottish theatre and secondary school reading lists. It's a heart-warming, laugh-out-loud comedy that captures the humour, resilience and quiet heroism of working-class women.

This production is directed by Tony Roper, who has helmed many professional tours and says this is his final production of the show. The cast features Louise McCarthy as Dolly, Ali Cleland as Magrit, Eden Barrie as Doreen, Lesley Mackie as Mrs Culfeathers, and Paul J Corrigan as Andy. David Anderson's music is played by Ross Brown on piano.

Tickets are £20 to £50. Evening performances are at 7.30pm and the matinee is at 2.30pm, with the show running two hours and 25 minutes including an interval. You'll find it in the Studio Theatre at the King's, 2 Leven Street, Edinburgh EH3 9LQ.