Gang Show Programme Extract:
1985 (1)
The following text has been taken
word-for-word from the 1985 Show programme. Although the text was
relevant at the time, it may not be relevant (or current) now.
 Gang Show 1985 -
How Did it Happen?
The 1983 Inverness Gang Show was
held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Scouting. It was such a
success that there was enthusiasm to try it again.
In November 1983, after
consultations with Scout leaders, the Executive Committee of
Inverness Area Scout Council booked and preparations began. The
production and administration teams were appointed and our producer
Bill Harvey started to assemble a programme. During late
summer/early autumn of 1984, the programme material was assembled
and typed and scripts were printed.
In October a re-union of the '83
Gang was held, and recruitment for this year's show was opened. Over
140 Scouts and nearly 30 Guides turned up for the rehearsals and out
of these 135 are in the Gang tonight - including 42 from the '83
Gang.
Simultaneously as the rehearsals
progressed on Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons, the
administration got to work on the mechanics or producing the most
expensive Gang Show Inverness has ever known - truly a youth
spectacular!
Altogether there are 21 weeks of
rehearsals and an estimated 103 hours of 'blood, sweat and toil' go
into the show before the 135 members of the "on-stage" Gang reach
the theatre. Backing them up are almost as many call boys, make-up
artists, programme sellers, dressers & scene shifters.
The final four weeks of the
rehearsals are perhaps the most critical of the 'build-up'. Advance
booking forms have come in and have been carefully dealt with by the
Gang's own box office staff - over 50% of the seats are booked
before the theatre box office starts to handle enquiries.
Gang Show is a team effort - on
stage, back stage and front of house. Teams are led by men and women
and all hand picked for their aptitude for the job - for all are
amateurs in this fantastic theatrical undertaking which looks so
easy when seen from a seat in the stalls or circle only because the
"Gang" enjoy the Show themselves and have the confidence that
everything possible has been done to present them in the best
possible light. |
