How it all started... The Red Scarf and Crest of a Wave

Hi gang show peeps!  

Welcome back to the last in our history lessons on gang show! Hopefully it hasn't been too boring. Today we're going to look at two of the key ingredients to a successful gang show. First off, lets look at the iconic Red Scarf.

Behind the Scenes with... Russell - Lighting Tech

Each month, we're going to spend a few minutes with the hidden faces of the gang.  No, not the people dressed in black in the UV numbers! The people that help with the running of the show backstage as just as important as all those smiling faces you see on stage. So this week we're going...

Russ hard at work!

Behind the Scenes with Russell - 

How it all Started... Ralph Reader

Ralph Reader

Hi guys, sorry this is a bit late. Had a busy weekend, and next weekend will prove to be even busier! But never fear, the show must go on, and so shall this blog!

After our brief history lesson last week on how Gang Show started, I thought this week we would look at the one person in particular who is responsible for all of it. Affectionately known as 'The father of Gang Show', we're going to look at the wonderful Ralph Reader.

How it all started... A (very brief) history of gang show

Hi guys, 

This week, we're going back to basics! SE Berks Gang show has been going for over fourty years, but we were not the first. Not by a long shot. The gang show movement is 80 years old this year, and still going strong. And it all started (as many things do) with one man. 

In 1931, a Rover Scout, 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. His name was Ralph Reader, and in May 1932 rehearsals commenced.

Focus on ... Charities

So... SE Berks Gang Show is awesome! I know, right! And part of the reason we're awesome (other than, you know, our general awesomeness!) is that we give local cubs, brownies, guides and scouts the chance to perform and showcase their many talents on the main stage of a working theatre, giving some that first taste of stardom, and others a huge boost in their own self confidence. As a gang, we ROCK!


But it's not just the oppourtunites we create for our own youngsters that make us amaze-balls! Each year the show raises money for charities that support children, locally and nationally. With bucket collections and raffles, which run throughout show week, we put our talents towards helping others. We've helped over 25 charities, many of them local, and have altogether raised over £22500!

I have a cunning plan!

So... We're about to start the planning for the next SE Berks Gang Show! 18-23rd February 2013 seems like ages away, but it's actually much closer than you think! A lot of planning and man hours go towards the show before rehearsals even start, but there's no point in building scenery, or practicing dance moves or sewing costumes if we don't have any items for them to go towards.


So how do we build a show?

Behind the Scenes with... Malcom - Guitar

Each month, we're going to spend a few minutes with the hidden faces of the gang.  No, not the people dressed in black in the UV numbers! The people that help with the running of the show backstage as just as important as all those smiling faces you see on stage. So in the first of what we hope to be a regular feature, lets go...

Behind the scenes with... 

Malcolm - Guitar

2012 Show Highlights!

Hiya

Welcome back to SEBerks Gangshow's blog! I really need to come up with a funkier name! Suggestions on a postcard please!

Today, I wanted to share with you some of my favourite moments from our recent show. We had some ups and downs, and inevitably I reached a point where I wondered if it would ever be alright on the night. But as always happens, not only did we manage to pull it off, but we did it with style!

So what did we do?

OPENING!

I GOTTA FEELING!.... That this blog might be a lot of fun! 

Welcome to the first blogpost for 

SE Berks GangShow! 

 

Although it seems like we've only just finished our 2012 show, we're already making plans for the 2013 show, and by following this blog, you'll get all the juicy backstage gossip and info! 


But first off, lets start by introducing ourselves. I thought I would make it easy, and give you all the information you'll need to know, by answering 6 very basic questions. What? Who? When? Where? Why? How?


First off, WHAT is a Gang Show?
Gang Shows started 80 years ago, when a scout leader called Ralph Reader organised a variety show by scouts to raise money for a new swimming pool at the Downe Scout campsite in Kent. It was a success and now many different gang shows exist all over the world. It is often said that a Gang Show is playing somewhere in the world every night of the year !



So WHO are you then?
We are a cast and crew of over one hundred, consisting of scouts and guides in South East Berkshire, ranging in age from 9 to 90+! Specifically, I am a member of the cast and also on the production team, so you'll get to see what happens from both sides of the show. As current cast members will confirm, I have little singing talent, a reasonable amount of dance talent, but a formidible set of lungs! 

Coming soon!

Blog under construction!

Check back in on 1st April 2012 for lots of backstage gossip and fun from 

SE Berks Gang Show!