ST ALBANS 2023 GANG SHOW

What a pleasure it was to be back at the Alban Arena to see the 2023 Gang Show.  After a three year hiatus the gang were back with their customary energy and enthusiasm, which is always such an integral part of the production.

It was apparent that there were fewer young people on stage this year, and that they were younger and potentially less experienced, but overall they stepped up to the plate, and gave their all.  The production team tailored everything to suit the range of abilities of their performers, very well done on your achievement on that front, and the performers achievements in realising your requirements.

We were treated to an explosion of colour, with good sets, mostly excellent lighting and clarity of sound.  I loved the atmospheric lighting for the opening particularly, it helped with the “we are back” wow factor.

Choreography was good, I liked the grouping in the second opening number, and thought that all the numbers were tailored to the various abilities. 

Costumes were lovely, fresh, colourful and inventive. 

There were some great back cloths, very colourful and suitable for each set, with good video projection to accompany some of the dance numbers. 

The opening brought us all in with a bang, very well chosen numbers to get us in the mood.

Wonky Donkey was fun – Zoe told the tale well, with Auburn and Sam fulfilling the comedy roles with drive.

Rosie and Oli started the Hans Andersen set, mastering the fast delivery very well with good projection.  Milaya was a stately Ice Queen, with Katie showing a good understanding of her song.  The ensemble all interacted well and delivered a charming set, well done.

Ash, Hollie, Olivia, Ella and Megan performed their dance very well, I liked the use of different forms of dance too. 

The Sea Shells sketch was very well performed with Oli providing a very well-studied performance, with good input from Lauren and Lia.  Great fun.

The Harbour scene was also colourful, Lucia and Luke singing the lead in the first number.  Thunder had very atmospheric lighting, with the final song bringing it all together with plenty of intent from the performers.

Unwritten Singing was well sung by Milena, Nikita, Lottie and Katie, with good harmonies.

The Fruit & Veg Party sketch was very good.

The Finale of Act1 featured Holly, Stefano, Poppy and Zach, who sang beautifully, with the ensemble producing a super sound for the last song.

Ice Cream was a fun set fronted by Rose, Zara, Gabby and Jacey, liked the rap, then Sam & Daniel twisted nicely, a fun set with Olivia fronting the final song with vigour.

Tom, Charlie, Jacey and Georgia did a great job with the Food Wrappers sketches, which recurred three times in all, very funny.

Little Pigs was a good sketch with Amelia, Nicole, Holly and Rosie, they all gave their pigs a different vibe with Amelia the Interviewer bringing it all together.

Home was a good set, with Johanna, Blue and Eliza singing the opening, and the ensemble joining in nicely.

Sam, and Daniel provided the voices for the Bear Moves dance item.

The Light set was very good, Sophie and Lottie opened well, with Millie and Ash fronting the following song, then Nikita and Milena singing the next song beautifully.  Hollie and Zoe showed good voices and the dance number was good, just needed attention to spacing.

The YMCA number was extremely well designed and portrayed by Rose, Millie, Sophie and Milaya.

So to the Finale – Milena, Daniel and Johanna sang Just One Person extremely well, and we were treated to the renowned ‘wall of sound’ when the tabs went back, with the rest of the finale featuring the well-known and loved music inherent in Gang Shows, which the audience really enjoyed participating in.

A very good evening’s entertainment, perhaps not quite as polished as before the three year break, but overall a show to be proud of. I can never praise enough all the behind the scenes helpers, without whom the show would not happen.  I am already looking forward to next year.

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