Basingstoke Gang Show 2018

Basingstoke Gang Show 2018 - is the 26th Gang Show to be produced involving the Guides and Scouts of the Basingstoke District of North Hampshire. Their production every 2 years is a mammoth task bringing together this year over 65 cast members.  The three goals for this show were firstly to raise £65,000 to put the show on; secondly, create an environment which is safe, inclusive and vibrant for our cast to be inspired, enabled and supported to reach their potential; lastly to showcase how brilliant life can be as a Cub, Scout, Guide, Explorer or Young Leader in our community. What more worthy ideals could there be.

The programme was very colourful with a wonderful trail of photographs of individual cast members going all the way through the programme.  The quality of the photos and clear typeface used made reading the programme a delight.  Within the text the emphasis very much on teamwork rather than the efforts of an individual.  For example, the production team, the business team, the wardrobe team together with the set building and stage crew not forgetting the front of house team.  Throughout the programme the logo of the show’s sponsor appeared on virtually every page – well done to the marketing team!

The scenery was simple but very effective however many of the scenes were enhanced by the expert use of the type of screen used in open air concerts and productions.  This was a serious coup to get this projection screen but even more so to use it so effectively on the Haymarket Stage.  All the technical aspects of the show were dealt with very professionally.  The youngsters were dressed immaculately for whatever scene they were involved in.  The work that went into them must have taken an army of seamstresses.  There must have been hundreds of costumes backstage – I particularly noticed for the final scene that all the ties were pristine with not a crease in sight.

The evening was full of some fine performances.  The dancers, the singers, the acrobats and the actors all contributed to the evening of fine entertainment. Everything was so slick, so polished and so enjoyable. This is not a show to pick out individual performances because of itself it is a team effort but each and every individual should be justly proud of themselves.  The Scouts and Guides were excellent but special praise should go to all the adults who gave so freely of their time to give the cast such an exhilarating experience.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this evening’s wonderful entertainment.

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