Gang are loud and proud

IT'S loud and brash, packed with big song-and-dance numbers and year after year it's the biggest sell-out show ever seen at the Alban Arena.

The annual St Albans Scouts and Guides Gang Show is one of those events which must be seen to be appreciated.

With a cast of more than 150 young people, the annual show, which took place last week, is said to be the largest of its kind in the country. And for sheer enthusiasm - not just from the young performers but also from the audience - it cannot fail to be a success.

The format of song and dance with the occasional comedy number thrown in changes little from year to year and even though many of the musical numbers pre-date the performers by several decades, they come across with freshness and life.

The hundreds of often spectacular costumes are the result of months of hard work by a large team of volunteers and the lighting is always stunning.

A new feature in this year's show was the use of up-to-the-minute video effects which gave some of the numbers an extra buzz.

And the band, larger than in previous years, produced tremendous backing for the on-stage performers. Once more it was under the direction of Roger Drew, who together with his son James, was responsible for the orchestrations.

One of the of the rules of the Gang Show is that the individual performers in particular items are never named but, as usual, this year's show produced a significant number of extremely good singers and dancers.

Now the curtain has gone down for the last time on the 2008 show, I know the team under producer David Barker will soon be getting down to the huge task of organising next year's event and scores of young people will be looking forward to taking part in what will certainly be another memorable piece of theatre.

JOHN MANNING