GANG SHOW 2025

The St Albans Gang Show never fails to give their audience a feast of music and colour, supported by excellent tech teams, showcasing young people performing with energy and enthusiasm.

The sheer number of musical items is always astounding, with the cast performing with gusto, which transmits to the audience.  The band had some interesting arrangements which gave added appeal to the music, with some great harmonies from the cast – and the famed ‘wall of sound’ when the tabs opened on the finale was definitely there – spine-tingling!

Costumes were excellent, a couple of girls did not have socks on and some lads without hats for City Life section, but otherwise all very colourful, I particularly liked the costumes for Life Starts with a Story, and the effect created by the orange ribbons on the trousers for the opening number – very effective.  Sound was good throughout, and lighting gave us some lovely effects overall.

Choreography as always relied a lot on arm and body movement, along with interesting shapes and positioning of performers, creating interest.  Very well-drilled and imaginative.

Millie and Olivia P opened the show with a well sung number, supported by the cast, then we moved on to a super funny sketch Songs for the Elderly – so well acted and presented by Tilly, Tom and Emma.  Plenty of humour and pace, very well achieved.

City Life had great depictions of London, Paris and New York, with Lottie, Eva, Tillie and Ella giving their all to their numbers, and the cast providing a good backing.

Back for Good was excellent – very well sung by Mille, Maisie, Ayla, Olivia, Abigail and Maya, with some great harmonies, I was very taken with how professional these young ladies were – super!  There were also lighting effects which cast interesting shadows on the backdrop which I liked.

When I was a Scout with William, Sam, Orla and Nicole had excellent timing, well-delivered, very precise which was so good.

Radio Days gave us a very energetic set with Marcello and Gabi singing well – I liked the effect of the shiny tops in different colours for the girls and the long waistcoats for the boys, all very effective.

Reservations, again well-performed by Rosie, Archie, Milaya, Ellia-Anna and Ollie – perhaps a little slow in picking up cues at times, but well-presented.

Call Me was a very good ensemble set, lots of enthusiasm and well-sung, with the stillness of the cast adding so much to the feel of the piece, and the ripple effect lighting creating additional appeal to the closing of Act 1.

Act 2 started with a lovely song from Maya and Thomas, a quiet but moving opening, lovely.  We then moved into Rags to Stitches which had super imaginative costumes – tape measures, buttons, reels of cotton and lengths of material - the super-sized sewing machine with working parts was great.  Alice and Maisie gave us a good interpretation of Spinning Around.  A very colourful attractive section.

Fight ‘Em Off was a well-choreographed modern/street dance number, performed with dynamism by Hazel, Stefano, George, Lara, Harry, Theo, Evie, Mabel and Jamie-Lynn.  Very edgy, with plenty of attitude!

The Interview – great timing from Finley and Lauren, good understanding of the way the subject matter was interwoven for maximum effect – well done.

Monsters gave us some imaginative costumes and great backdrop – unfortunately for me the two monsters emerging from the rocks were not lit, so the effect was lost, although I was aware of it.  Poppy sang well.

Playdate was another well-conceived sketch, lots of comedy well-delivered by Eva, Zara and Jensen.

Life Starts with a Story was a lovely concept, with good costumes, I enjoyed all the solos/duets from Abi. Kia, Ayla, Rosa, Zoe and Hazel, with Theo and Alex making the biggest impression with their Hey Tiger rendition, but all so well achieved.

Moving On with Ella, Alice and Emily was very vocal – great!

Then we went into the finale with Millie, Tom and Kia fronting Just One Person, before the tabs opened on the rousing finale, which is always emotional.

A real celebration of talent and enthusiasm, an evening we look forward to each year.  My thanks too, to the reception committee and people who made and served the buffet and drinks, making this an immersive experience once again.

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