Scouts and Guides set to bring the house down in Exeter

Exeter Scouts and Guides will be “Riding along on the crest of a wave” again this Easter, as Exeter Gang Show returns to the Barnfield Theatre, Exeter from the 5th to the 8th April 2017.

Now in its 33rd year, the show will be packed full of popular songs, expert choreography and laugh out load sketches, and has everything to keep audience members of any age entertained.

The cast of almost 70 Cubs, Brownies, Scouts, Guides, Explorer Scouts, Rangers and Leaders aged nine and over have been rehearsing intensively since the beginning of the year.

This year's show is once again produced by local Brownie leader Jo Bond and district Scouter Dave Britton. Putting the show together is a huge task, with the production team getting to work pretty much as soon as the curtain fell on the hugely successful 2016 show last April.

“We are really excited about this year’s show and how it has really built up from the great show the cast and crew put on in 2016,” said Dave. “All of our cast have really got stuck in learning song words and dance moves. Now with under a month to go excitement is really building and we can’t wait to get on stage.”

Jo added: “There is something in the show for everyone this year with a mix of sketches, song and dance. With sketches based on everything from ancient Egypt to shopping for shoes and musical numbers that aim to hit all our emotions such as remembering musical legends of the last 40 years, falling in love and coming home, there is plenty of variety to keep audiences of this year's Gang Show entertained.

The show boasts over 30 different songs, ranging from West End musicals, popular pop hits and traditional Gang Show favourites spread across 16 scenes in two acts. Songs include Imagine, Electricity, the Can Can and Can’t Stop the Feeling.

With such a large cast and so many scenes, it is no surprise that there are more than 400 costumes, from Space Suits to Flairs. Jo said: "Some of the cast are dressed up as Can Can Dancers, Ballet Performers, and famous artists. There is a sketch about the dangers of flying, and a vision of what Bake Off may look like when it gets to Channel Four.”

Dave added: “Jo, myself, our cast and crew have a lot to live up to this year with the 2016 show having been a finalist for Best Amateur Production in Radio Exe’s Devon Performance Awards in November. We were all invited to the Olivier Awards type ceremony and we certainly have a taste for the red carpet treatment now!”

Our show is put on entirely by volunteers - that includes all of our amazing cast, all our fantastic crew, from set design, costumes, lighting and sound, to our Producers, musicians and more and all come from our Scouting or Guiding Movement.

The show really is a great night out for all the family. It's fun, a great laugh and hopefully everyone will enjoy it. Most of all it brings together all ages from Guiding and Scouting and the opportunity for them to perform on stage, enjoy the limelight and take away that buzz that you can only get from the roar of the crowd.

“All in all, it's a great night out for all the family. It's good fun, will bring a smile to your face and hopefully everyone will enjoy it."

Scout and Guide Gang Show’s had their beginnings back in 1932 when a young Scout leader Ralph Reader, wrote and produced the first Gang Show to raise money for a local swimming pool. Recognising the worth of this form of training, Baden-Powell encouraged him to continue. He did – and went on to establish the world famous London Gang Show, as well as writing the words and music to hundreds of songs and sketches, including the world famous song “We’re Riding Along on the Crest of a Wave”.

From that small beginning, Gang Show has become one of the traditions of Scouting - having spread around the world. In fact it is often said that a Gang Show is playing somewhere in the world every night of the year!

The Exeter Scout and Guide Gang Show will be at the Barnfield Theatre from Wednesday 5th to Saturday 8th April. Performances start at 7.15pm and there is a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £8.50 or £7 for concessions. Tickets: 01392 270891.