West End producer returns to Scottish roots with the Steamie

A Fife theatre producer will return to his roots when he brings Scottish theatrical classic the Steamie to Kirkcaldy during its 30th anniversary tour.

The ode to the hard-working women of the 1950s will open at the Adam Smith Theatre on Wednesday September 6 for a four-day run, thanks to the hard work of Neil Laidlaw.

Neil, 43, now runs a successful production company in London’s West End but is originally from Burntisland and is a former pupil of Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy.

He and co-producer Jason Haigh Ellery will also take the Steamie to Dundee Rep on September 18, while the tour also takes in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Inverness and Ayr.

A special red carpet gala performance at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow, in October will bring together the stars of Scottish theatre and screen in celebration of the seminal play’s anniversary.

Neil is delighted to have teamed up with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for this performance, which will raise funds for the institution in its 170th year.

This is the third time Neil has produced the Steamie, written by comedian Tony Roper in 1987.

The first was in 2009 and then in 2012 he produced the 25th-anniversary tour.

Other successes include coproducing the Olivier Awardnominated revival of Show Boat and the Olivier Award-winning Gypsy starring Imelda Staunton.

Neil said: “The Steamie is one of the greatest Scottish plays.

“I am extremely proud to have been associated with it in the past and am now even more excited to be producing this 30th anniversary celebration.”