The Glendon Gang Show is an annual variety show, delivered by the Scouts and Guides of the Glendon District. Formed from the Corby and Kettering Gang Shows, the first performance will be in March 2024.
We aim to continue growing each year, to ensure that we can bring fantastic fun-filled entertainment to you!
Our Aim
The aim of our show, is to give young people in the Scouting and Girlguiding movement, the opportunity, to experience all aspects of performance skills including, singing, dancing, acting, and comedy, whilst, promoting the traditional scouting values, within an amateur theatrical environment. This process over the years, has enabled young people and adults alike, to develop their confidence, self-esteem, commitment, team working skills, as well as improving their social skills, by making new friends, and also enhancing their sense of community, by providing entertainment
History of Gang shows
The idea of the “Gang Show” comes from a man called Ralph Reader CBE, who wrote, produced and directed, the first Gang Show in London, in 1932. At that time, Ralph Reader was a well-known, British Actor, Producer and Choreographer, who was very active in the Scouting Movement. The production of the first London Gang show, which was entitled ‘The Gang’s All Here’, was a mixture of sketches, songs and dance numbers, with the aim of raising funds for Scouting projects.
These initial shows, were immensely successful, with scenes being included in many Royal Command performances. The format, quickly spread throughout the country and indeed the world, with local Scout Groups and Districts, staging their own shows, to raise funds for their own local projects. Ralph Reader went on to write a lot of the material that you see in Gang Shows today, especially, the signature song of ‘On the Crest of a Wave’, that is featured in most Gang Shows.
It has often been said, that somewhere in the World, a Gang Show takes place on every day of the Year – What a tremendous legacy that Ralph Reader has left us!
The Red Necker
Ralph Reader introduced a Red Scarf / Neckerchief, to distinguish those shows that attained a “National Standard” of performance. The neckerchief, which has the “GS” Initials, embroidered on it, in gold, with the name of the Show included within the design, is a much prized item, for all who wear it.
Corby Gang Show achieved this accreditation in 1962 and Kettering, in 1965, both shows have been very proud to wear these neckerchiefs, ever since.
