| Gang Show facts | - The St Albans Scout & Guide Gang Show is renowned to be one of the best in the country. People will be travelling from across the UK to see it.
- OFFICIAL! – IT’S A SELL OUT! The show will play to packed audiences from Wednesday 8 February – Saturday 11 February.
- There are over 120 cast members (from 11 to 25 years of age)
- Over 40 songs – that’s more than three west end musicals!
- Over 30 dance routines
- Over 18,000 items in the Gang Show wardrobe
- Over 130 volunteers help to put the show on – production crew, musicians, technical crew, wardrobe team, set builders, business team to name but a few
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Online Diary One I've been a cast member of the St Albans Gang Show for seven years now, the experience has certainly changed, but has stayed just as awesome as my first rehearsal back in October 1999. As each show passes, I become more aware of the work involved in producing a Gang Show. As a naive 11 year-old, I thought "how hard can it be, learning a few songs and dance routines?" How much further away from the truth could I be?! The hard work that every cast member puts in throughout the four-and-a-half month rehearsal schedule can be tiring, but this is nothing compared to the hours that the production team spend planning and shaping every number, from creating the costumes to orchestrating the music, from designing the sets to deciding which cast members will perform in sketches or sing solos.
 | | Our Gang Show Diarist - Flis! |
Before the cast of Gang Show 2006 even met, there were months of designing the show, as the ideas team decided what songs, dances and sketches were best suited to each number. Then in September came the auditions. Competition was fierce as everyone wanted a chance to perform on the Alban Arena stage come February. Once the cast had been picked, we met to begin the long process of putting the show together. There was a definite air of excitement at the first rehearsal, everyone wondering what production numbers there would be, and whether their favourite S Club 7 song would make an appearance!
 | | Rehearsals are hard work - but fun! |
The daunting task of learning all the songs is made easier by our production team and musicians, who patiently "note-bash" the more complicated songs, singing them line by line, to ensure we are all singing the same thing! The songs are then accompanied by dance routines. Often after a performance of what it should look like by our choreographers, we piece together the dance, until we are feeling brave enough to sing at the same time. Running the items through gives us all an idea of what it will look like when we transfer to the Arena. Remembering where you have been placed in every item can be a challenge, not to mention remembering all those recently learnt words and dance routines! In a week or so, we will be rehearsing at the Alban Arena for the first time. This is a big moment in the running of the show, as we finally get to set items on the stage! This is exciting for everyone, as we all realise the short space of time left until show week.
 | | Reach for the skies! |
The rehearsal process is definitely demanding, and after a seven hour stint on a Sunday, you do find yourself wondering how you will keep going until Show week! But when you successfully run an item through, the feeling of achievement is amazing. So what does Gang Show mean to me? With new ideas and new people, the show never feels old or stale, and, whilst trying to keep clichés to a minimum, the friendships you make are truly for life, and I wouldn't change the experience I've had for the world. Don't forget to come back soon, to catch up with the next installment of the Gang Show online diary from Flis! | 
