20 Feb 2026
Deborah Heath is riding along on the crest of a wave at the Alban Arena for the annual Scouts and Guides variety event…
Once again, I was delighted to be invited to see local thespians from the Guides and Scouts perform in their annual gang show at the Alban Arena.
For those of you unfamiliar with the format, this is a delightful mix of cabaret style pieces and ensemble numbers that demonstrates the camaraderie in their community, not just on stage but off.
The Gang Shows started in the early 1930s and has been going in St Albans for over 40 years. This year, 105 youngsters from across the district graced the Arena stage. The magnificent costumes, props, choreography, technical, backstage and front of house support is entirely manage by volunteers and in an age where there are less people willing or able to give their time for free, the enormity of this achievement felt truly humbling to watch.
The well planned and balanced running order of this year’s show is probably their strongest yet. There was a great mix of acts including comedy sketches, smaller group dancing and singing and comic songs which brought light and shade to the evening. An early highlight was ‘Rhyming Couple’ in which the two singers mastered the art of delivering tongue-twister absurdist verse. A superbly written and delivered number; well done to all involved.
There were a number of comedy sketches in the programme which brought a welcome change of energy.
The one to get the most positive audience reaction on the night I attended was without a doubt ‘Post Game Interview’ in which a Scout leader was questioned about the chaos of running a camp.
It certainly brought back memories for me and there were ripples of recognition across the Arena as parents realised they might be guilty of picking up their children late. If I have one recommendation to the Gang Show team moving forward it would be to work a little on their comedy scripts which did not all deliver a satisfying punchline, although this is not to take away from the efforts of the children who performed them.
For me, it is the ensemble numbers that really make the Gang Show shine. Perhaps this is because it really sums up the team work that is the backbone of the Baden Powell movement. ‘Route 66’ was a high energy section with ‘The Way to Amarillo’ working particularly well. My personal favourite of the whole show and not just because I have recently given up snacking, was ‘Take The Biscuit’ – the prop and costume design really was superb, especially the party rings. The well-selected songs and dance numbers were a joy to behold and although I disapprove of dunking biscuits as a rule, I loved the way this was woven in the choreography. I smiled throughout, especially when the Jaffa Cakes asked whether they were a cake or a biscuit! This showstopper left me with the sugar high that I have been missing.
Act II kicked off with ‘Pottering in the Garden’, another strong ensemble section in which the cast were dressed as all manner of garden items from plants to cheeky rabbits. ‘Five’, the boy band act was well chosen for a change of pace with some nostalgic numbers for the parents including ‘Pray’. It was a really fun section and the five performers commanded the stage well. Another high point of Act II was ‘The Orchestra’ – a lovely piece of visual comedy in which the performers played their feet and legs as classical instruments.
The band, all connected to Scouts and Guides in some way were masters of their craft providing much more than just a strong backbone. They excelled in every style from cheesy pop to the Prodigy. Superb work!
Producer Hermione Drew should be feeling extremely proud of herself and her team for delivering another superb night of entertainment. I love the way Gang Show celebrates “learning through doing” for those members who might not be the outdoor type and encourages the acquisition of performing skills for those who are. Although I am not a member of the Scouting community anymore, I felt a warm glow throughout the show and give my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to everyone involved in its success from the dedicated team of backstage ironers to the performers themselves!
All photos by Roger Morton
