13 Feb 2023
It’s been a few years since audiences have packed out the Alban Arena for the annual Gang Show – Deborah Heath was there to cheer on the local institution’s long-awaited return.
On Saturday night I was privileged enough to attend my first ever Gang Show. With no personal involvement in the Scout movement, I wondered if I might feel out of place but was welcomed from the outset with the warm and positive family vibe.
Of course, here is an organisation that relies completely on goodwill and it was really clear form the volunteers selling programmes to those listed within them, that this was a team effort that extended beyond the cast itself.
What made this Gang Show particularly exciting was its return after a three-year COVID hiatus. The cast of approximately 80 young people were from St Albans guiding and scouting groups and for a large percentage of them, this was their first show. They were clearly itching to perform.
Producer Hermione Drew explains: “What the last few years have show us if that nothing beats being together to experience the magic of live theatre and a live audience.”
I cannot praise this group of young performers enough. They proved themselves to be triple threats – able to sing, dance and act with confidence, evoking a range of emotions from their audience.
An early group number that brought actual tears to my eyes was “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head” – particularly poignant due to last week’s death of song writer Burt Bacharach.
The musical direction and choreography were superb. This was important as full cast singing and dancing numbers such as “Ready to Rock,” provided the backbone of the show. These celebrated every performer in equal measure. However, there were also opportunities for some performers to have a few minutes if individual limelight including some fabulous singing acts.
In the spirit of scouting teamwork, it feels inappropriate for me to single out any individual performers here. However, I would like to commend some sections that worked particularly well.
Firstly, there were a number of well-timed sketches with their root in comic word play. I loved the deconstruction of “She Sells Seashells” which was clearly performed. The exploration of fruit and vegetable classification in “Five a Day” was also a rib tickler. I was pleased to learn that although the performers do not write the sketches themselves, they have a hand in their selection and development. Indeed, it sounds like the “The King of Packaging,” which was strong and particularly popular with the audience, developed during the course of the show’s run!
I loved the energy and skill demonstrated in the street dance sections “Shake your Body Down” and “Light it Up.” Also very enjoyable was the comic song about different dance styles in “I Got Moves.”
In fact, I felt the comic songs, also including “Honky Donkey” were particularly successful and if I have one recommendation for next year, it would be to include more of these in the programme.
The production values of Gangshow were absolutely outstanding. However, I am sure this wasn’t so much about money as a group of skilled volunteers giving up their free time in to make props and costumes to a professional standard. The live band had been particularly well selected and the result was breath-taking.
Not every Scout or Guide is the outdoor type and I am so pleased to see the arts being given such value.
It is a sign that this is an organisation that values all its members and all their skills.
Gangshow is a celebration of what makes the scouting movement so special – giving members opportunities to challenge themselves and work together. A big well done and thank you to everyone involved on and behind stage for what was a colourful and exciting night of pure entertainment.
