Aberdeen Scout Gang Show was born out of the 1957 and 1959 Scout Shows, which were held in the High School for Girls, Aberdeen, now Harlaw Academy.
The first proper Aberdeen Gang Show, using the material from Ralph Reader's London Gang Shows, ran for two performances a night in the Tivoli Theatre, Guild Street, Aberdeen in April 1960, the show being directed by the young Grampian Television announcer, the late Kennedy Thompson, Scout Leader of the 9th Aberdeen Scout Troop. The first Gang Show Convener was the late Jack Esslemont, a lifetime Scout and holder of the Silver Wolf, the highest honour bestowed on members of the Scout Movement. The Tivoli was again the venue between 1961 and 1963, however the following year the show transferred to His Majesty's Theatre, where it continued to run annually for the next five years, the convenership of the show passing in 1965 to Jimmy Knowles, one of the stalwarts of the early Gang Show casts. The 1968 show, however proved to be the end of an era, and a three-year break in productions followed. Despite the staging of the musical "Oliver!" in 1972 under the new convenership of the late Jim Merson, our first joint venture with the Girl Guide Movement, and with invited adults from local amateur companies, the Gang Show's initial involvement with His Majesty's had come to a close.
In 1973 and again in 1974, Jim Merson and his committee along with Kennedy Thomson produced a joint Scout and Guide Gang Show at the Aberdeen Arts Centre Theatre in King Street, but the show again fell into abeyance until 1979 when, with a new organising committee, a restructured production took to the boards of the Arts Centre stage under the convenership of the late Bobo Burns, himself an old Scout and past Gang Show member. This new format did not include Girl Guides, but did boast several female Leaders, soon to be followed by the first girl Venture Scouts. This was the start of a six-year run at the Arts Centre, during which time the convenership baton passed to Bobo's son, Tony. As the show went from strength to strength, so the need for additional seating grew; thus it was that in 1985 the show transferred to the larger capacity of the Northern College of Education Theatre at Hilton.
A major decision was taken by the organising committee in 1988 to bring Gang Show back to His Majesty's Theatre in 1990. As a means of sharpening up all those involved with the production, it was decided to organise a touring show in 1989. For this reason, Aberdeen Gang Show 'hit the road' for the first time, moving cast, costumes, scenery, props and show personnel around the North East, playing one night stands at venues in Ellon, Stonehaven, Inverurie and Aboyne, before ending up for the final performance at the Aberdeen Arts Centre. The return to His Majesty's, while arguably a production success failed to make the major financial breakthrough required, and the 1991 show, under new convener, Ian Struthers opened back at Aberdeen Arts Centre on Tuesday 22nd October 1991. The two shows under Ian's leadership were themed with "Bon Voyage "and "Take 92".
The baton changed again with Ian Dow taking over as show Convenor for another themed show in 1993 "Money Talks" followed by a change of venue for 1994 to St Machar Academy Theatre with "Expressly American" and "Musical Notes". The Director and Choreographer for the three shows from 1993 was Sonja Read (Rasmussen).
The next four years had a slight change of direction with Ian Dow taking on the role of Directing and Producing. The 1996 show was a "Cabaret" with smaller cast and a tour, performing in Hotel venues and a scout hall.
1997 was a year of change. We toured again, rehearsing a show in seven weeks so that we could change our performances to spring time. This took us in May to Inverurie, Stonehaven and Aberdeen. We had also found new premises to use as a Headquarters for Gang Show. This was an unused scout hut in Mastrick giving us rehearsal space, storage for props and scenery and our huge collection of costumes. As well as moving in we rehearsed a show "Sights of London", to perform in the Aberdeen Arts Centre, where we continued to perform for the next two years in the month of March.
In the year 2000, Gang Show celebrated their 40th year as a "Red Scarf Show".
Sonja Read was welcomed back as Director and Choreographer along with Stephen Burns her assistant.
We were fortunate in getting permission to take photographs of the cast in the closed Tivoli Theatre (where Gang Show started in 1960) to enhance our printed programme.
The next six shows, up to March 2006, with this new revitalised production team have increased cast numbers, and provided a lively up to date show that is a hit with all ages in our audience and cast.
The show continues to provide an entertainment based on the idea of Ralph Reader and the London Gang Show from over 75 years ago. However, our show has modernised content, using a wide range of material, including original pieces written by Tony Burns, a past Convenor.
The style of the show, and material used has become a tradition in Aberdeen. The programme and poster design has added to the professionalism and the modernisation.
The show has as many volunteers off stage as those who perform on stage. Our stage crews and wardrobe teams work many evenings in preparation for a show. We are also reliant on parental help before and during a show.
Gang Show has also started a Fellowship called "The Greenroom" which is for anyone with an interest in supporting Gang Show and other Area wide scouting activities.
It is hoped to start a "Friends of Gang Show" to allow those who want to support Gang Show by attending social occasions and receiving a newsletter keeping them up to date on events.
There will be a small charge for membership.