INFORMATION for potential cast of the 2020 show:-
What is a Gang Show?
The High Wycombe Gang Show is now in its 34th year and is a variety family show with a mix of old and new music, comedy and dance items all performed by a cast of over 80 members of the local Scout & Guide movements from age 8 to sixty something! The show also has a live band, makes all its own costumes and builds all its own scenery and props. Every year the show raises money for a local charity. Gang Show is an extra activity that any member of scouting or guiding can do alongside their usual weekly meeting with their group.
Things you need to know about our show:-
• We are an ALL INCLUSIVE show and are very proud to be so. This means we do not have entry criteria based on singing or dancing ability. All we require is a good attitude to learning and lots of enthusiasm.
• We will NEVER ask anyone who doesn’t want to, to sing or dance on their own. There will not be an X-Factor type audition process.
• We WANT people in our show who will value their place in the cast and who will give Gang Show 100% commitment and effort.
Who can be in it?
ANYONE who is a current member of the Scout or Guide movements over the age of 8 by show 1st night.
We split the cast into sections:–
Juniors aged 8 to 10 approx (ie Cubs & Brownies)
Main Cast aged 10 & above.
The Juniors often join the Main cast on stage and have their own songs within larger items.
What about rehearsals?
Rehearsals start around the beginning of Nov for the main cast in a local High Wycombe school on a Tuesday evening 7.30 pm until 9.30pm.
For the Juniors, rehearsals start in Jan on Tuesdays from 6pm until 7pm.
For the main cast there is usually a couple of Sunday afternoons in Jan or Feb as well. We then have an all day dress rehearsal for both main and junior cast on a Sunday usually about 3 weeks before the show.
ALL REHEARSAL DATES WILL BE ISSUED BEFORE THE START OF REHEARSALS. We expect all cast to commit to being at ALL rehearsals except when ill or in exceptional circumstances.
When is the Show?
The actual show performance dates next year are Weds 1st April to Sat 4th April. Please note this is still within school term time.
Please also note that ALL cast will be required at the theatre EVERY evening that week from Monday 30th Mar and from lunchtime on Sat 4th April. By being a cast member, you are committing to being in every performance.
Does it cost anything?
Gang Show is a not for profit organisation. We do have huge overheads which are not always met by audience ticket sales but we try really hard to keep the cost to cast to an absolute minimum. For new cast members we charge a registration fee of £30 to cover their Gang Show uniform polo shirt, scarf, woggle, admin fees, rehearsal venue costs and food for cast tea show week. For cast who are returning to the show who already have their polo shirt etc, there is a fee of £15. Payment by credit card is possible at registration evening.
We very much appreciate that sometimes whole families get involved in the show and we would never want the cost of cast membership for multiple children to put anyone off participating. Terms of payments can be arranged with complete discretion if you should need to spread your registration costs at all. Please just email info@highwycombegangshow.co.uk
Who is Gang Show run by?
Gang Show is run by a massive team of VOLUNTEERS. Lots of those volunteers are adults leaders within scouting and guiding. ALL adults in gang show undergo a full DBS check. The business side of the show is run by a committee headed by our business manager Mike Cutler and he can be contacted on businessmanager@highwycombegangshow.co.uk. The production team is led by our producer Gemma Donovan and she can be contacted via our main info@highwycombegangshow.co.uk address.
What is the application procedure?
Our online registration process will open on 1st Sept 2019. Go to www.highwycombegangshow.co.uk
Everyone needs to register their interest online and we will then send you details of our REGISTRATION EVENING. This is where we do all the paperwork, take all payments, take cast pictures for the programme, measurements for wardrobe and give all cast and their parents an overview of what’s in the show. We expect this evening to take place around the end of Oct
Hopefully, you now have all the information you need to be able to make a decision about whether to get involved. If you have any questions, please do get in touch. Please remember that as with all Scout & Guide leaders, we at Gang Show are also volunteers with jobs and families. We will do our utmost to answer queries in a timely fashion.
Email us info@highwycombegangshow.co.uk
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Thank-you for reading this and we hope to welcome you as part of our cast later this year!
THE GANG SHOW PRODUCTION TEAM