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 as well as rehearsals. 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. A typical Gang Show would require participants to attend around 20 rehearsals, dress rehearsals and overnight camps in preparation for the actual performances.

In addition many Gang Shows are organised in the manner of a typical scouting/guiding activity with the participants being grouped into patrols and attending special Gang Show camps and activities in order to develop and enhance team cohesion.

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 Gang Show Format
2 History of the Gang Show
3 Organisation
4 Gang Shows around the world
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] 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.

A recent typical example of the Gang Show format included among 25 items in a two and a half hour performance, an adaptation of a Monty Python piece, original comedy sketches and comic songs (one involving a parody of Dame Edna Everage), a tribute to Freddie Mercury and Queen which included solo and ensemble renditons of the group's oeuvre with original arrangements, with a traditional (but not mandatory) Gang Show finale.

The show's format was introduced by Ralph Reader the first Gang Show producer, who went on to write many sketches and songs for Gang Shows including the signature tune On the Crest of a Wave. Some other Gang Show "standards" 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.

[edit] History of the Gang Show

Woven badge issued to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Gang Show productions

In 1931, Ralph Reader, then a Rover Scout who had already made his mark in theatre in the USA and London, was asked to write a Scout based amateur variety show to help raise money for a swimming pool at Downe Scout Camp (now a Scout Association National Activity Centre). Rehearsals commenced under Reader's direction on 29th May 1932, (his 29th birthday).

Initially the show did not have a title but during a rehearsal break, Reader recalled later, he asked a cast member if everyone was ready to which the response was Aye, Aye Skip, the gang's all here. The first production, under the title The Gang's All Here ran between 30th October and 1st November, 1932 at the Scala Theatre in central London.

Despite the fact that the show was not a sell out, enough money was raised to fund the swimming pool and the show was well received. Baden-Powell, the founder of scouting, approached Reader and persuaded him to produce another show in 1933. This show was produced with the title The Gang Comes Back and ran for a week.

A tradition had been born and Reader continued to write and produce the London Gang Show. In 1934 the show became known as The Gang Show and the song Crest of a Wave was performed for the first time becoming over the years the Show's iconic song internationally.

In 1937 the London Gang Show achieved the distinction of being the first amateur production to have a Royal Command Performance (an honour that was repeated in 1957 and 1964).

[edit] Organisation

A typical show scarf - this one is from Cumberland Gang Show

When the Gang Show started in London in 1932, 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 young men and boys 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] Gang Shows around the world

Since the first Gang Show in London, productions have been organised in many countries around the world including England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, United States, the Netherlands^{[citation needed]} and South Africa^{[citation needed]}. Indeed it is claimed that a Gang Show is being produced somewhere in world every day of the year.^{[citation needed]} 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 Crest of a Wave.

In 2007 South East Berkshire Gang Show launched the World Wide Forum for Gangshows. This Forum is open to anyone involved in Gang Show and is a place where ideas can be exchanged between Shows and also where shows can advertise their performances to others.

[edit] Australia

Cover of the 2006 Cumberland Gang Show full colour glossy paper 20 page program reflects the high standards attained in Gang Show productions

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

Adelaide Gang Show - started in 1961.
Brisbane Gang Show - started in 1952.
Canberra Gang Show - started in 1966.
Central Coast Gang Show - Started in the late 1980s.
Comedy Capers Gang Show - started in 1965, located in Northern Adelaide.
Cumberland Gang Show - started in 1970, located in the Greater Western Sydney Region.
Hornsby Gang Show - started in 1974, located in the Hornsby District, north of Sydney.
Kirrawee Gang Show - started in 1959, located in Southern Sydney.
Melbourne Gang Show - started in 1953.
Scouts Shouts Youth Theatre - started in 1973, located in Salisbury, South Australia.
South Metro Showtime - started in 1982.
Strzelecki Showtime - started in 1969.
Sunraysia Gang Show Located in Mildura
Whitehorse Showtime - started in 1965

[edit] Ireland

The National Star Scout Show a production in Dublin originally organised with the assistance of Ralph Reader [1]

[edit] New Zealand

Auckland Central Gang Show - started in 1969.
North Shore Gang Show - started in 1959, located in Auckland.
Hutt Valley Gang Show
Manawatu Gangshow - located in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Otago Gang Show - started in 1956.
Waikato Gang Show - restarted in 2005.

[edit] United Kingdom

Woven badge issued by the Kings Lyn Gang Show to commemorate the 1993 production

Aberdeen Gang Show-started in 1960.
Albany Gang Show formerly Thameside Gang Show and originally Bermondsey Gang Show - started 1950
Basingstoke Gang Show-started in 1980
Barrow Gang Show - started in 1995.
Bath and District Scout and Guide Gang Show - started in 1997.
Birkenhead Gang Show- started in 1961.
Blackpool Scout Gang Show - started in 1961.
Blyth Valley Gangshow started in 1992.
Bristol Gang Show - started in 1971.
Chelmsford Gang Show - started in 1957.
Chester Gang Show - started in 1954.
2nd Chester le Street Gang Show - meet the gang started in the 1950's
City of Coventry Gang Show - started in the 1960s.
Crewe Gang Show - started in 1938.
Deeping Gang Show - started 1987.
Dundee Gang Show- started in 1967.
East Birmingham Gang Show.
Exeter and District Gang Show-started in 1983
Glasgow Gang Show.
Gloucester Gang Show.
Gosport Gang Show - started 1978.
Grantham Scout and Guide Gang Show
Greater London South West Scout and Guide Gang Show - started in 1982.
Greenford Gang Show - started in 1953.
Grimsby Gang Show
Handsworth Gang Show - started in 1953
Harpenden & Wheathampstead Scout Gang Show - started in 1949
Hereford Gang Show 21st show in 2008.
Inverness Area Gang Show - started in 1983.
Kenilworth Gang Show - started 1971.
Knutsford Gang Show - started in 1986.
Marple Scout and Guide Gang Show - started in 1964.
Maidstone Gang show.
Middlesbrough Gang Show - started in 1950.
Newcastle Gang Show - started in 1937.
Meanwood gang show, called 100 and not out yet
Milton Keynes Gang Show - started in 1990
Newcastle Gang Show - Started in 1937
Northampton Gang Show - started in 1957
Nuneaton Gang Show
Oxfordshire Gang Show - started in 1950.
1st Rustington Scout Group Gang Show - started in 1969.
St Albans Scout & Guide Gang Show.
St. Helens Scout & Guide Gang Show - started in 1964
1st Leyton Scout Group Gang Show - started in 1947
South East Berkshire Gang Show - started in 1970.
Stoke-on-Trent & Newcastle Division's Gang Show - started in 1934.
Greater London North East Scouts Gang Show (ShowStoppers) - started 2003
Southend Scout and Guide Gang Show - started in 1966.
Stafford Gang Show - started as Staford Scout Show in 1998
Swindon Gang Show - started as Thamesdown Gang Show in 1976.
Thurrock Gang Show - started in 1968.
WAGS (Warwickshire) Gang Show
Walthamstow Gang Show - started in 1970.
Warrington Gang Show - started in 1951.
West Wirral Gang Show - started in 1990.
Yeovil Gang Show - started in 1985.