Gang Show

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A Gang Show is an amateur theatrical performance where the cast is made up of youth members of Scouts and Guides. Adult leaders help out, often backstage rather than on stage. 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 between 15 and 30 rehearsals 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 local businesses.

Contents

[edit] Gang Show format

The format of a Gang Show is generally that of a variety show; song, dance and short comedy sketches are the most common items. Depending on the stage of development of the show, or the experience of the production teams and cast, there can be a good deal of sophistication on show. Some shows have around 12 items in the programme, some up to 25. Some items are stand-alone, with others being a series of songs conforming to a chosen theme.

A typical show will include a big Opening number, five or six comedy sketches, several musical items with a mix of group and solo work, dance numbers, as well as a grand Finale, all designed to show off the very best of what young people can do on stage. Some of the material is well-known, other is original, written by the Scouts and Guides themselves.

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, It's A Wonderful life, A Touch of Silver, Three Cheers, Show Time, Together and the majestic Scout Hymn.

[edit] History

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

In 1931, Ralph Reader, then a Rover Scout who was trying to make 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 25 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 30 October and 1 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 in Australia

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. In some scouting districts anyone who is not on stage or co-ordinating wears a brown scarf with the local gang show insignia on it. Gang Show has become a tradition throughout the Scouting world and, as with all traditions, there are some rules which have sprung up. In the UK you can not wear the Gang Show insignia unless your show has been successfully assessed and Nationally Recognised. This assessment is carried out every five years.

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 the United Kingdom, 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 Reader's Gang Show 'anthem' "Crest of a Wave".

[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.

[edit] Ireland

[edit] New Zealand

  • Auckland Central Gang Show - started in 1969.
  • North Shore Gang Show - started in 1959, located in Auckland.
  • Hutt Valley Gang Show - started in 1979. Although located in Lower Hutt, Scouts and Guides from across the greater Wellington Region are eligible to take part. The 2008 Gang Show celebrated NZ's Scouting and Guiding centenary with a history of the movements in New Zealand.
  • Manawatu Gangshow - located in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
  • Otago Gang Show - started in 1956.
  • Waikato Gang Show - restarted in 2005.
  • Christchurch Gang Show - restarted in 2009.

[edit] United Kingdom

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

[edit] United States

[edit] On the Crest of a Wave

We'll do the hailing

On the Crest of a Wave has become the signature tune for many Scout Gang Shows throughout the world and is usually performed at the end of a performance. On the Crest of a Wave was written by Ralph Reader for use in the original London Gang Show and has hand actions associated with it that vary from show to show. Many Gang Shows choose only to sing the chorus (traditionally twice, the first time with gusto, the second time part-quiet and staccato, part with gusto once more) but there are also two verses. Many shows have their own signature tune too. Some shows use Ralph Reader's "Together" (Hornsby, Harpenden and York Gang Shows), "Gee, It's A Wonderful Life" (Melbourne, Adelaide, Sunraysia and Worthing Gang Shows), "Making Memories" (St Albans) or "Silver on the Scarlet", in place of or as well as "On The Crest Of A Wave". In Australia, tunes by Peter Marriott (Scarves of Blue, 52 Weeks) are theme songs for Camberwell Showtime and South Metro Showtime respectively, whilst Whitehorse Showtime uses Reader's "So As We Go Along". Melbourne Gang Show sometimes uses Alex Boemo's tune "These Golden Years" for special show anniversaries, as a finale number.

[edit] See also

Scouting portal

[edit] References

  • Reader, Ralph This is The Gang Show, C. Arthur Pearson Ltd [London], 1957
  • Reader, Ralph Ralph Reader Remembers, Bailey Brothers and Swinfen [London], 1975

[edit] External links

Scouting: Events: Gang Shows at the Open Directory Project World Wide Forum

Global Gangshow

History

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_Show"
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