Bath Gang Show 2009 NODA Report.

BATH GANG SHOW 2009 Kingswood Theatre, Kingswood School, Bath

Friday 29^th May

Director and Musical Director: Adrian Cottle; Choreographer: Kate Tamblin

Graeme Savage reports -

‘Do our best’ may be a slightly historical motto for the Scouts and Guides but it was certainly much in evidence at this year’s Gang Show, as 60 young (and some not so young) performers gave every ounce of energy and enthusiasm they had into two hours of good-old fashioned entertainment. Classic gang show sketches were given a modern flavour with the addition of mobile phones, laptops and tv screens, and some very impressive multi-media projections and lighting enhanced the mix of modern dance compilations, and the legendary Crest of a Wave which kicked off a rousing finale.

Simply having this many performers on stage for many of the full company numbers presented its own challenges, and credit to the director and choreographer for ensuring that the stage didn’t look too cramped, if at times some of the smaller members of the company did get lost towards the back of the stage. In a show such as this, where the emphasis is on participation as much as perfection, the cast is inevitably made up of seasoned campaigners and first-time performers, but it was evident that all were working together, and if occasional first-time nerves and hesitancy crept in to some of the dances and sketches, these were swept away by a very evident ‘company ethic’ which does credit to the company as both performers and members of the Scouting movement.

The pace of the evening moved along nicely, with a well-balanced programme of music, comedy and a very poignant dedication to the Help for Heroes campaign. A slightly over-long Abba medley was the only stage at which the evening dragged a little, but as the focus returned to the younger members of the company for the finale, the audience were sent away on a high note.

Well done to all involved – far too many to mention with well over a hundred names listed as performers and contributors. You should be very proud of your successful production, a great example of the enthusiasm and dedication of young people, and a fantastic advert for the Scouting movement.