This week's Rehearsals

This Sunday we spent a lot of time working on the fairground scene & the spooky scene with all the walk on & walk offs. It's well different doing the spooky scene to piano music instead of the CD. The adults have to do a funny waltz at one point whilst the rest sing the song.
We went right through the whole scenes a number of times. We also went through the opening. We don't know yet where we are going to be standing in the finale but I guess we'll come to that. Every so often in the dances either the producer or chorographer starts yelling instructions or words, only problem is if you listen to them, you lose the music & so miss your steps or can't hear the music so sing out of time so I think it makes things worse.

The stroppy leader has been very quiet recently. I think this is coz a few weeks back the Producer said that he didn't need any other adults to tell people to be quiet, he would do it. He said he wasn't directing his comments at any one person, but I think he had someone in mind.

Got to admit though it does get noisy at times.

Our last rehearsal before Christmas woz on Monday nite. It started off with the juniors doing their scene. We were going to do the finale but as there were a load of people missing we just sang it and we went through the opening instead. No words for these after Christmas EEK.

The dancers then did their arm swinging dance and then the evening finished with the Adults doing their scene. It should be well funny with them all dressed as ladies. Julian & Al have to do this bit where they skip round the stage LOL even better, at the end Robin & Hedge have to lie on the floor with their legs raised in a Sexy way LOL.

Hope you all have a good Chrimbo. I love it, we normally go to church on Christmas Eve which starts things off right then go home ready for Santa to come. If you are having a New Years eve party send me an invite & I'll see evry1 at rehearsals in January.

L8Rs

T

This week's Rehearsals

This Sunday's rehearsals were good fun again, we did a lot of work on the opening.
They have changed some of the bits that we are singing around which added to the confusion.
I noticed that there is a notice on the board about a trip to the Bath Gang Show next March I'll be going to see that.
We had 2 new leaders turn up this week, they looked a bit confused by us knowing the dances & moves that we do already but they have been in the show before so should be all right.

This week, the Scout who looks like Fidel Castro kept stealing peoples shoes.  Ellen reckons he has a foot fetish!!!!
We also started doing dances for one of the items in Fairground.

On Monday we did more work on the main items including Bump in the night. The hopping Scout leader was back again this week which woz funny. The dance group also did their skeleton dance including the mad whirly arm thing. Only thing is, if they have bones on the front of their costume they will disappear when they lift their arms up.  The adults then did one of their acts, this is one where they are all dressed as women!!!!!  The men all have to do a wiggle at one point & then jump into each others arms, it woz well funny.

At the end of today we had done 1/4 of our rehearsals  GULP

Tuesday we were split into groups so we only needed to pop in to do our act.  They rehearsed Pageant and Joys of Scouting.

Some of us have tried to find out wot things are in the whole show but they don't want to say. If you are reading this and are from another show let me know if your directors are secretive about things or whether they tell you all about it up front.

L8Rs

T

Cardiff & Rehearsals

Two Gang shows in two weeks LOL.
This week I went to see the Cardiff Gang Show, it was great fun. They used the theme of school and each item was based on a different lesson e.g. history, science etc.
The opening was called registration, the interval was lunchtime & their finale was hometime. The show was really good to watch and seemed to be over so quickly. I went with Lydia, Chris, Adrian, Ellen, Mike & Clare. Barbara from Bath Gang Show was there with her Guides as well. The cast were well enthusiastic & looked like they were enjoying themselves so the show seemed much more lively than last weeks one in Bristol. We did Pizza Hut afterwards.

Yesterdays Rehearsal was good we did the last songs that we hadn't learned yet from the opening & finale and started sorting out the dance to Thriller.
Had more fun with stroppy leader this week telling all the Guides how they were letting her down by not being quiet whilst she stuck her arm in the air and she didn't care wot the Scout Association did. (I thought we were one Gang). The producer puts it over a lot calmer than her and without being rude. This week she even told another leader off!!! for a moment it looked like the other leader woz going to slap her but she didn't.
We also got the words for two other items 1 is wot the producer called the Choir Item & the other is for a 60s scene.
As he gave them out at the same time & split into two I guess it is his way of saying if you are in the 60's item you can't sing very well LOL. Not saying wot group I am in. We didn't do the spooky scene so I don't know if the hopping leaders dance woz a one off or if we get a repeat performance. Still there is always next time.
More rehearsals tonite

L8rs

T

Sketches & the Hopping Scout leader

We have started splitting up for rehearsals now.
First there were two rehearsals for sketches, then the Scooby Gang did their song & dance. In one sketch Scotty has to pretend to be another girls mum and dress as an old lady. This is a sketch that was written by Ralph Reader who was the man that started Gang Show.

The Scout who looks like Fidel Castro is doing a solo verse for one bit in the Juliet (which apparently is a balcony). That should be good.

After that all the over 13s did the Zombie dance.  One of the Scout leaders did a mad hopping dance at the bit where we shuffle round slowly LOL.

2nite is more split up rehearsals and then evry1 is back together again on Sunday

L8Rs

T

Bristol & Rehearsals

Had a really fun weekend.
On Saturday we went to watch the Bristol Gang Show.  We were sitting up in the grand circle together with practically all the cast of Bath Gang Show and some others from Bath.  It woz great fun.  Coz there weren't many other people in the Grand Circle we were able to sing/dance and really join in. It woz a good show but not as good as their show last year mainly coz their tab items didn't really work.  They also have a lot of adults singing solos. Oi Adults its our show we don't mind you being in it but please don't try to steal the limelight.  They only have Scouts in the show no guides apart from a few leaders and rangers.

On Sunday we had rehearsals. We were doing the 4 main items again & started to sing songs together as though they were in the item rather than as separate songs.  Supercalifragilistic is hard going enuff let alone when you have songs before & after it.

Yeah I managed to remember most of the steps to we go together and to bump in the night.
Our rehearsals in the week are going to be split up with different people going to rehearsals at different times, but all the over 13s will be there together for bump in the night so we can get together then.  Its quite good that we have the web site coz you can check on there to see what times you are needed in rehearsals.

There was a leader who acts like she is in charge, but someone said she is just a normal leader who was having a bit of a go yesterday, but she did say about smiling when we are singing which does make sense & having seen lots of shows I know it makes you enjoy watching the show a lot more.

L8Rs

T

Second rehearsal

Hi
Today was our second rehearsal.
It started off with all the under 13s doing their monster dance, well I say all the under 12s but it was all the under 12s plus Leigh, Anna & Jeff LOL.
We also did the dance for "we go together" this was the same one that we did at the assessment but I had forgotten most of it. It quickly came back though & I think I did allright. I don't have to do the complicated bit at the end. After the younger ones had gone home, we did the Zombie dance again & did some movement for the finale. We finished with a weird arm swinging dance by a certain group LOL See you all on Sunday folks

L8rs

T

Rehearsals start

Hi there

Today was our first rehearsal LOL. We have been given words for 3 items already, the opening, the finale, & the end of the first half. Today was mostly singing but just before lunch we did some dances for the opening item of the second half. We were doing a Zombie dance to the song "Bump in the night" by all stars it woz brill. Dina, Amy & Lydia were at the front and were pretty good so I woz copying them.
All the leaders seem nice but there is 1 Leader who is well annoying and she is rude as well. If we spoke like that, the leaders would tell us off.
I am with a good group though so think I will enjoy myself. We are singing the last song from Grease (we go together) in the show. It's one of those songs that you think you know until you get to the shoop a loop adoop bits.
One of the Scouts has a beard that makes him look like Fidel Castro. If I get a chance to take a photo on my phone I'll post it here.
At the end they sing happy birthday to evry1 who has just had their birthday including 1 leader who was 40. Luckily no-one knows my birthday. hee hee hee. One song in the finale is well hard, but I should be OK after some practice.

L8rs

T

My Favourite shows

Hi

I just thought that I would post a list of my top 5 Gang Shows out of the 21 that I have seen.
They are (in alphabetical order) Basingstoke 04, Bath 03, Bath 04, Cardiff 02, Swindon 99.
I haven't included Swindon 2000 2002 or 2003 for consideration in that list because I had friends in the show those years so I would be very biased.

Please feel free to add comments to let me know what your favourite shows have been.

L8Rs

T

Things I've been doing

Hi

Just a quick update on what I have been doing.

I went to see a play put on by a local church in Swindon to celebrate them being 50 years old.  I went coz some people I know were in it. It was good fun.  I also went to Oxford to see Footloose. That was a way cool show. The dancing was brill & I thought that some of the songs would be really good in Gang Show

I took part in Jamboree on the Internet at the weekend. It was gr8 being able to talk to Guides Scouts & Girl Scouts from all sorts of countries.  Its good because you don't just have to chat to people your own age, the adults are more than willing to talk to us which is cool.

Apparently 2 people from the Swindon Gang Show are going to go to Spain in the half term to do concerts with their music group.  That sounds way cool.  I am going abroad next year to an International Scout centre called Kanderstag in Switzerland.

Booking my tickets for the Bristol Gang Show this week we are going as a family. If you are going look out for me I'll be in uniform.

Half term next week  Our troop closes down for half term & coz half term lasts for a week and a half we have 3 weeks B4 our next meeting.  I mite be helping at the fireworks display in Lydiard park on Nov 6th so if you go I'll be the one in the reflective jacket LOL

L8Rs

T

In the News

Hi There were two bits in our local paper about the Gang Show assessment. It is kinda weird reading about something that you have been involved with & thinking yes that's me I was part of that & I'm going to be in the show. The news thing said about what we were doing and said that if any Scouts or Guides missed the assessment then they can still join in by coming to the first rehearsal. I thought that was really nice. If you want to read the article it is here http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/wiltshire/archive/2004/09/24/swindon_news37ZM.html It also said that the show is from 9th-12th March next year, so at least people can mark it in their diaries. I am hoping to go and see the Bristol Gang Show in November, so I'll put an entry in here after I have seen it L8Rs T

Assessment

Wow that woz gr8.
I've just got back from the assessment & had to update my BLOG strait away.
We handed our forms in to the desk and then went into the hall, where there were about 60 people.
Once we were all there we started off by singing "Thank You for the music" then we did a sort of aerobic shake out to loosen up.
We then put some movement to the song that we had just learned.
After a drink break we split up into groups for some acting we had a sketch about Guides & Scouts (I don't want to say too much coz it is gonna be in the show & it mite spoil it)
Anyway I got to play a Guide, Chris & Chloe both played Scouts LOL.
That woz good fun. Then we did a dance routine to "We go together" from the end of Grease
That got a bit complicated. Eiz woz really good at that though.
We also got a chance to sing a solo so they could see wot our voices were like!!!!!!!

Anyway I'm really looking forward to November now. There are going to be loads of us there coz there were 60 people there in the morning & they had another session in the afternoon so there should be well over 100 in the cast.
Don't forget if you want to comment on my diary just clik on the word comment below.

L8Rs
T

I've been to a Party

Hi

This weekend a few of us got invited to Bath for a party.
In recognition of Bath Gang Show achieving the standard necessary to be awarded their Red Necker they were rewarded with a party.  It was a brill disco held at the University in Bath.  Practically everyone from the current & past cast & crew were there as well as supporters and friends.  Saw Laura Tom Amy Ben Katie & Aimee & their families again which was good & said hello to Adrian Mike Claire Clare Bev etc.  Tom has been awarded a place on their junior production team.

They start rehearsing on Wednesday & seemed really excited about it, whilst we have to wait another 2 months.
Still it is our assessment in 4 days time so I'll get a chance to see what it is all really about (hope I like it, otherwise this BLOG is going to come to a sudden end. Watch this space next week to find out.

L8Rs

T

Gilwell

Hi
Just a short note to say that I have just been camping at Gilwell Park for the weekend. Gilwell park is a big Scout campsite in NE London in Epping Forest. The first weekend in September they have a big event for Scout Leaders which was what this was. I went with Lydia coz her parents are both Scout leaders. It was really good fun and although it woz really for leaders there woz loads that we could do as well they had a wicked artificial rock tower about 15m high that we were able to climb.While we were there, the new Chief Scout was invested. The New Chief Scout is Peter Duncan who presented the programme travel bug & who was a former Blue Peter presenter.We saw some leaders there who Lydia knew from Swindon Gang Show so we had a bit of a chat about that. I'm really looking forward to it now, only 2 weeks till the assessment.

L8Rs
T

The New Chief Scout makes his promise

Camping

Hi

I've just got back from camping in Somerset, it woz wicked.
We arrived and had to get the tent up in really mad wind & rain.
We had to peg bits of the tent down whilst we were setting it up but even with that it took three of us to hold it down and another to lock the poles in place & put the pegs in the right place.
We were camping with 8 of the Bath Gang show & their families and it woz wicked fun.
Eggy bread for breakfast yum yum
We were chatting about Gang shows and I am now really looking forward to the assessment next month. That reminds me, I really must get my photos done.
Lydia got a black eye on the trampoline when she tried to do a flip but luckily she didn't knock herself out. That would have made a great photo LOL

L8rs

T

Bath Gang Show

Hi

I've just heard through a friend that Bath Gang Show have been awarded their red necker.
That's really brill.
We went to see their show this year as part of our camp. We were camping not very far away and we went to Bath for the day and saw the Bath Gang Show in the afternoon it was brilliant.
What a coincidence though, Lucy who was one of the girls at camp recognised one of her old friends in the show  LOL. Lucy's friend used to live in Swindon before moving to Bath. coincidence or what.
Any way if anyone from Bath Gang Show ever reads this, Well done

T

Pie

I saw Eiz today.
Eiz is a young leader at Brownies and she said that she is going to be in next years show so that is brilliant.
Only problem is she keeps talking about Pie, probably coz she has seen this site
www.weebl.jolt.co.uk/
far too much.
Eiz went to see last years Gang Show coz Pasty woz in it and she said it woz good so thats why she wants to be in the next one.  I hope we'll be at the same assessment.
Eiz said that she went to the assessment last year but couldn't be in the show so she wants to make sure she is in it this year.

T

A bit more info

Swindon Gang Show is held every 18 months and the show is put on by Guides & Scouts from all over Swindon. The show is at the main theatre in Swindon which is called the Wyvern and all sorts of people go to watch it, from friends and relatives of the cast, to other Guides & Scouts not in the show and the general public. I saw my first Swindon Gang Show in 1997 when my leader arranged a trip to see the show and I have seen them all since then when I first saw it I didn't think anythink about being in the show but Sarah said to me "you should be in it" so I decided to give it a go.

My leader gave the letters out about the show a couple of weeks ago at the end of term. I knew that Chris who was an APL had been in last years show and so had Jo and they had both really enjoyed it so I decided that I would be in the show for 2005.
I don't have to hand the forms in yet but they have to be in when we start again in September, but it will be good to join with other Brownies, Cubs, Scouts & Guides from Swindon.
There is an assessment in September and then we start rehearsing in November.  There are loads of rehearsals either 2 or 3 a week but it should be worth it.  It does mean that I can't do anything on a Sunday, and I will have to sort on my music lesson on a Monday but I am really looking forward to it.
It says on the form that I need 2 passport sized photos but I bet they don't really mean that I might give them photos the size of my pasport for a laugh though  :-) LOL
Bet I look minging in my photo.

More diary entries later

T

Introduction

Hi

Welcome to my Blog.  I decided to start a Blog as a form of online diary/story about being a cast member of the Swindon Gang Show.  The Blog will be written from Taylor Reed's point of view but my real name is not Taylor. It's really here as a sort of entertainment for other members of the cast and hopefully entertainment for you if you are reading.  If you do leave comments then I'll do my best to get back to you.  I will write about things that have gone on at rehearsals etc, but will probably change some names and maybe combine some people together and some incidents to make the Blog more interesting.  Although Taylor doesn't actually exist, the Swindon Gang Show does and will be at the Wyvern Theatre Swindon (UK) from 9th-12th March 2005.