Gang Show

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A Gang Show is an amateur theatrical performance, generally of a high standard, where the cast is made up of principally youth members of Scouts and Guides and a minority of adult leaders. The aim of the shows is to give young people in Scouting and Guiding the opportunity to develop performance skills and perform in a close to professional theatrical environment. Opportunities are also afforded to young people to work backstage, in front of house roles, and to perform as musicians in the show's musical items and in the orchestra.

Generally, youth members, adult leaders and volunteer helpers have to participate in many hours of planning, writing, composing, choreographing, building stage scenery and props, and making costumes stretching over several months before the actual performances. In order to reach what is perceived to be the required performance standard for a Gang Show, a high level of commitment is needed from all involved in the production and, to a marginally lesser extent, their families.

Frequently performances take place in commercial theatres over several days and are attended by the general public as well as participants' friends and families and other scouters and guiders.

Nothwithstanding the amateur nature of the Gang Show, the cost of mounting a show with acceptable production values capable of attracting the ticket buying public has required some shows to become quite commercial in character with financial sponsorship being canvassed from business houses and governments.

1 The Gang Show Format
2 The Gang Show around the world
3 The Gang Show in Australia
4 Gang Shows in the UK
5 References
6 External links

[edit] The Gang Show Format

The format of a Gang Show is generally that of a variety show and includes comedy skits traditionally quick-witted but lacking excessive complexity, short routines or sketches, and musical and dance numbers frequently of some sophistication, usually but not always with minimal plot cohesion across a show but sometimes conforming to an overall theme.

The format was introduced by Ralph Reader, a young Rover Scout, who wrote the first Gang Show in 1932, to help raise money for a swimming pool. He went on to write many sketches and songs for Gang Shows including the signature tune We're Riding Along on the Crest of a Wave. Some other Gang Show "standards" Ralph Reader wrote include Great Great Game, Gee it's a wonderful life, Silver on the Scarlet, Three Cheers, Show Time, and the majestic Scout Hymn.

When the Gang Show first started in London in 1932, Ralph Reader decided that the cast should be organised as a Scout Troop. This arrangement was so successful that it has been carried on ever since. But the lads who were members of the Gang Show Troop wanted some kind of identification, and it was decided to adopt a distinctive scarf. Who actually decided on the scarlet scarf is not known, but it has since become traditional and internationally accepted as the symbol of Gang Shows. As Gang Shows extended throughout the world, some further means of identification was needed to distinguish one show from another. London led the way again by embroidering in gold, on the point of the scarf, the insignia G.S. London. Today, each Gang has its own local identifying badge in gold on the point of the scarf. Gang Show has become a tradition throughout the Scouting world and, as with all traditions, there are some rules which have sprung up. One of these is that a show does not adopt a badge on its scarf until it has completed three annual performances and demonstrated that the show is established as a working concern, and not just a one off event.

In 1972 The London Gang Show Fellowship was founded by Reader solely for the current and former members of the London show to keep in touch with each other. Over the years this has now expanded and membership is open to anyone who has an interest in The Gang Shows and its founder Ralph Reader.

[edit] The Gang Show around the world

Gang shows are organised in several countries around the world. Indeed it is claimed that a Gang Show is being produced somewhere in world every day of the year. Whilst they are all individual in their character, they all share the general ethos of Reader's original concept and have some common elements such as a Finale which almost invariably incorporate at least some traditional Reader scouting standards such as We're Riding Along on the Crest of a Wave.

[edit] The Gang Show in Australia

Cover of the 2006 Cumberland Gang Show full colour glossy paper program reflects the high standards attained in Gang Show productions

Gang Shows in Australia are generally organised on a regional basis.

Brisbane Gang Show was started in 1951, and is notable for having changed the words in its performance of Silver on the Scarlet to "For there's gold now on the scarlet", in honour of the 50th Year of Brisbane Gang Show, following the Gang Show tradition of a person receiving a silver trimmed scarf after being in the show for 25 years, and a gold trimmed scarf after being in a show for 50 years. As of 2006, BGS is one of the oldest Gang Shows still in performance, completing its 55th season. It is also tradition that for the final performance for a season, a small stand is placed in the middle of the stage, upon which is placed the scarf of long servong producer Hugh "Kirra" McKee. A spotlight is kept on the scarf at all times during the show. During the Finale, it is placed on one of the younger cast members usually by long-term cast member.

Canberra Gang Show began in 1966 with the help of Melbourne Gang Show and went solo in 1968, earning its own red scarf with the distinctive Canberra Coat of Arms - a pair of swans - emblazoned on it. The red scarf, patrols named after Shakespeare characters, the traditional finale song We'll Go On And On and other traditions remind the members of where the Gang Show came from and what it has achieved in the past. Given the relatively small size of Canberra, the various teams are open to everyone, as the number of applicants rarely reach any limit. Since 1982 the Erindale Theatre has been home of the show; before that, various other theatres in Canberra were used. In July 2006, Canberra Gang Show celebrated the 40th year of Gang Shows in Canberra.

Cumberland Gang Show was founded in 1969 and draws its performers from Scout and Guide groups in western Sydney. After an exhaustive audition process in December each year about 140 performers and musicians are chosen from more than 400 hopeful Cubs, Brownies, Scouts, Guides, Venturers, Rovers and Rangers. Performances take place in the school holidays in July of the following year at the Riverside Theatre, Parramatta.

Melbourne Gang Show began in 1952 and has been going for 55 years as of 2007. There are over 200 people who act in Gang Show aged from 10-26. Each Gang Member in the Melbourne Gang Show gets their own red scarf to wear to prove they were in Melbourne Gang Show. Each year the Melbourne Gang Show is divided into two acts. There is an enormous group of volunteers (over 50) behind Gang Show including people doing costumes, make up, props, catering and more.

Camberwell Showtime is another Australian Scout Show, though not explicitly a Gang Show. Each year, a team of writers aged 10 and up write an original script and music. Camberwell was the result of an issue in which it was determined Melbourne already had a Gang Show but numerous Scouts and Guides in the city would miss out on the oppurtunity to perform in it.

[edit] Gang Shows in the UK

St Albans Scout & Guide Gang Show is one of the biggest in the country with 130 cast members and 100+ adults assisting in production and backstage roles. In 2006 they cast were asked to put together a special 'one-off' show for a special gala dinner in London hosted by the national HQ of the Scout Association. Top Scouting & Guiding chiefs (inc the UK Chief Scout) flew in from around the world to take part in the World Jamboree unit leaders meeting and the St Albans Gang entertained them.

Blackpool Scout Gang Show was first staged in 1961. Over the years the show has graced the stage of many of the nationally known theatres in Blackpool including the Opera House (which at the time was the biggest theatre and stage in Europe), Pavilion Theatre and the Grand Theatre. While at the Opera House, the Blackpool Scout Gang Show also had the privilge of having the then-Chief Scout coming to see the production. In 2005, after 13 years at the Winter Garden's Pavilion Theatre, the Gang Show moved to the Globe Theatre at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Blackpool Scout Gang Show has a cast of over 100 members ranging from the Beaver Scout, Cub Scout, Scout, Explorer Scout and Scout Network sections. Members from Girlguiding UK are also part of the Gang, as are Leaders from both Associations.

South East Berkshire Gang Show first hit the stage in 1970 starting in a local school hall, from there it grew excessive and after a couple of years moved to Camberley Civic Hall where it stayed for many years until moving to its current venue of the Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell. They produce a show every year which takes place over the half term week in February, their Gang work from the beginning of September and rehearse every Sunday for the 6 months prior to the show. The cast size averages 90 to 100 members, ranging in age from 9 to 70 all being current members of the Scout or Guide Associations and the crew consists of around another 80 members. This makes a Gang around 180 people every year.