The Gang Show

Today we are looking at  Scouting insitution, The Gang Show, and its history

The dual aims of  the gang show are providing a learning opportunity for young people in the performing arts, as well as contributing to the artistic and cultural growth of their local community with in nearly all instances the youth members providing the on stage performances.

The back stage work such as directing, lighting, costume and set making is done by members of all ages and typically the venue would be a Scout Hall for a smaller production or a local theatre, in our case the local Town Hall was often used.

The gang show takes the format of an revue or variety show typically comprising of  song, dance and short comedy sketches with the  number of items varies between 12 and 25, some stand-alone, others a series of songs to a chosen theme or a running gag.

The format was created by Ralph Reader, who wrote material including the signature tune, "Crest of a Wave". Other standards he wrote include "Strolling", "Great Great Game", "Gee, It's A Wonderful life", "Gee, It's Great To Be Young", "A Touch of Silver", "Three Cheers", "Show Time", "Together", "These are the Times" and "The Scout Hymn".

The conception of the gang show goes back to 1931 when Reader, a Rover Scout trying to make his mark in theatre in the US and London, was asked to write a Scout-based variety show to raise money for a swimming pool at Downe Scout Camp (now a Scout Association National Activity Centre).

At the start of the rehearsals the show did not have a title, but during a rehearsal break, Reader later recalled, he asked a cast member if everyone was ready, to which the response was "Aye, aye Skip, the gang's all here".

From that point on it was know as the Gang Show

The first production, The Gang's All Here, ran between October 30th and November 1st 1932 at the Scala Theatre in central London.

The show was not a sell-out but enough was raised to fund the swimming pool and the show was well received. Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, persuaded Reader to produce another show in 1933. This was The Gang Comes Back and ran for a week.

Following the 1934 show it was officially titled The Gang Show and "The Crest of a Wave" which was in subsiquent years the shows anthem was first performed.

Today a gang show season may only run for a single weekend, but performance seasons lasting one or two weeks are common. Tickets to these shows are often available to the public, and can be a useful tool to engage the local community in Scouting apart from fund raising.