Taylor's Gang Show diary

Weekday

2009-09-10T23:33:00.000+01:00

Weekday rehearsal was on Thursday this week.
The little kids were there first and i missed wot they were doing but we were in rehearsing wicked.
Harvey has a new way of auditioning for solos instead of hearing you sing she goes by if you are willing to get your face painted LOL
see you on Sunday

L8R's
T

Rehearsing Again

2009-09-07T19:20:00.000+01:00

We are bak rehearsing again for Gang Show which is gr8.

Lots of different people in the show this year but some missing. Al is missing coz he has moved from Swindon.
Guitar boy is bak again but he has now got an invisible drum kit he keeps playing LOL.
Thank god that Anna has lost the stupid whistle. Were Guides and Scouts, not dogs.
It is still unfair that it seems that the adults get to sit on chairs or the pe benches but we have to sit on the floor. And how comes they get to bring coffee into the hall but we can't.
We were rehearsing from 3:00 until half 5 without a break this week which is stupid. the show isn't even that long without a break we could have done with a drink but we aren't allowed them in the hall but wen we did opening one of the new women came in with coffee for her and her friend.
Harvey & Anna. Can we have a break next time after about an hour.

See you Sunday

L8R's
T

Gang Show time is back

2009-05-22T14:03:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone

Happy days are here again. No school and Gang show is bak. I had the forms to apply for this year sent through to me by Lydia. She got them from her leader and said they saw a video of the last show LOL.
I'll get my leader to sign the forms tonite and ask why they haven't sent them to our unit yet.
Looking forward to next month and seeing evry1 again. I went to see Bristol Gang Show and Newport Gang show they were both good and will try to get down to watch bath if i can get sum1 to go with me. Hope we do something for 100 years of GG next year

C U all on the 14th

L8R's
T

At the Wyvern

2008-03-04T22:57:00.001Z

Technical rehearsal time at the Wyvern theatre. We were told to get here at 5:30 but we had to wait ages before we were able to do anything. There woz something going on on stage with the flying apparatus which slowed us down. The rehearsal seemed to go OK but it took ages and we didn't actually get it all finished coz we were getting too late for the little ones. And also as I found out later, the theater staff wanted to go home. Still we have learn't how much (or is it how little time we have to get back to our changing rooms. Luckily they have given us a quick change room for Jazz. The youngsters couldn't get ready in time for hard knock life, so they have moved Jeff's dance to after Jazz so the youngsters are changing while the dance is going on.
The dress rehearsal went better than the technical but there are still some things to practice so we will be getting some people in early again tomorrow before the show begins.
The radio were here yesterday and they are going to be playing it tomorrow. some of the cast were interviewed LOL.

Can't wait for tomorrow

L8R's
T

Final rehearsals at the school

2008-03-01T19:50:00.001Z

Final Rehearsals were a bit mixed this year.
We started off with dress rehearsals of one half at a time. For a lot of the little ones this was the first time that they have had to try to change from one costume into another. It woz good fun but circus is still confusing as I find it difficult to imagine the school is the theater and I woz there for the last show so the people who haven't been there before must really be finding it hard. They are also going to change where we are standing in finale. Panic time. We are in the theater in 2 weeks and don't know where we are going to be standing. Joseph woz good fun and people are starting to relax so hopefully it will go well.

The second dress rehearsal at the school gave us a larf and a problem. They called the little ones on stage for Hard knock and hardly any of them were ready. It looks like some of us might have to help them get ready or they will never make it on time. The laugh woz as we were waiting to go on for Disney. Julian & Goose came off just before we went on, but they were wearing dresses OMG. I hope we get to see wot they were doing some time, if not I can't wait till the video.

Got to say if you are wondering who I mean when I say Goose it is not the person who's nickname woz goose. It is one of the Male leaders who played Mother Goose in my first show.

Next stop the Wyvern

L8R's
T

Have you missed me

2008-02-13T21:31:00.003Z

Hi it's been a while since I have been on here coz evrything has bin so buzy. Some of my m8s have had parties what with that, troop nights and gang show I haven't had much time to blog. rehearsals are going well at the moment though some things are better than others. Still not too sure how circus is going to work as we are in the auditorium, but I'm sure we'll work it out at the theatre. Quite how many times Bert & Jeff have to tell us when & how to move our hats in Jazz I don't know. Also the Jazz girls help out by singing in nowadays but I thought the ladies from nowadays are supposed to be singing in All that Jazz as well.
OK competition for the weirdest dance step has been won by the strange "fart waving" move that we have to do in Joyful (come & join the chorus) It just beats the toe, heel, step move in Topsy Turvy.
We are supposed to be doing stage discipline at the moment. Problem is the little ones don't know what that means and the adults in the back rows think that it is OK for them to talk so the little ones copy. It needs to be the same rules for evry1.
I'm looking forward to the dress rehearsal on Sunday LOL.
I've heard from a friend in Bristol that their show has been cancelled coz the hippodrome has double booked with the Mighty Boosh. Shame coz it would have been good to go to Bristol 2 weeks running & see Gang Show one week and Boosh the next. I hope to go and see Birmingham Gang show next week I'll let you know if I go.

L8R's
T

Two months to the show

2008-01-13T17:39:00.000Z

Our first week back woz last week and we were pants. Every1 woz really quiet and we seemed to have forgot loads over Christmas :-(

This week however it woz a complete change. :-) I thought evry1 did really well and we were loud and people were singing properly. I think that the producer looked a bit relieved as I am sure she woz worried after last week. It did make me laugh at one point though when One of the leaders said that we needed to make sure we had learn't our words. He is one of the worst for not learning them & you can see that he doesn't qwuite know them as he is trying to sing. We all got to try costumes on today as well and those people who are in sketches started off doing them this week as well. The annoying Guide leader woz back this week she wozn't too bad though apart from at one point where she woz talking about how it is important to sign out when we leave but rather than just talk to us she made it sound like she woz telling us off. They are changing the registers from leaders doing it to evry1 doing their own coz they said that the old way wozn't workin. Well if that's the case it is becoz the leaders are getting it wrong not us, so why is she having a go.

Howard has helped organise a charity event at 12 bar on Wednesday so I am going to that. If NE1 else is going see you there

L8R's
T

Last week b4 Xmas

2007-12-16T20:32:00.000Z

This week woz our last week b4 Xmas.
We were joined by 2 new cast members. Well 1 new and 1 old friend. Howard is back in Gang Show and he has brought his brother with him he said that his leader didn't tell his Scouts about the show so he didn't know about it. still it is good that he is back. We had a good rehearsal and were able to take home a CD with the songs on to learn over Xmas LOL. People were quieter this week at rehearsals which is good. Still no sign of the annoying Guide leader though.
We still want the adults to look like they are pulling their weight at rehearsals. During the warm up we were all joining in with the dance, but only a few of the adults joined in some are just sitting watching. Surely as you get older it is more important to warm up than it is when you are young and fit.
We finished early today and they put some CDs on so that people could dance or just run around like crazy people.
Have a good Xmas and hope Santa brings you some nice goodies.

L8R's
T

Missing People

2007-12-12T20:11:00.000Z

This week we were singing the songs that we had learned already and adding more dancing to them which woz good. More sketch parts were given out this week .
Gang Show rehearsals are a lot of fun but there are also loads of people missing this year, Howard, Scotty, Dina, The Scout who looks like Fidel Castro, Anna, Leigh, Ellen, Amy, & Lydia to name a few. Magpie wasn't there on Sunday either but Julian said that she wasn't feeling well so at least she hasn't quit. Huge Qs for tuck shop when they opened this week. No midweek rehearsals this week, there is Carol singing instead. Tonight they are at Les Gowing house at the moment and tomorrow they are at a new one. Unfortunately I can't get there but I'll see you all on Sunday.
I don't know if any1 is still reading this. I know some of my friends read this but if any1 else does read it please leave me a comment to let me know otherwise I might put it on my bebo site instead coz its easier for my friends.

L8R's
T

Christingles

2007-12-06T18:01:00.000Z

Hi

Our troop are having a Christingle service this weekend so this week we were making Christingles ready for the service. We made loads and my fingers stink of orange. We did eat lots of Jelly Tots though LOL. The service is at 6:00 on Sunday so I will still be at rehearsals.

This week at rehearsals, the young ones did Hard Knock life & then the older girls did "All that Jazz" Not sure everyone can wiggle like Bert & Jeff want. Still there are plenty of rehearsals left LOL

L8R's
T

December

2007-12-02T16:37:00.000Z

Just got back from rehearsals. Today we rehearsed the opening, Razzle Dazzle, and Walts World. We also practiced our entrance for Razzle Dazzle so that one is coming on well. We are using hats in it like we were supposed to last time so we have to take them to rehearsals again. A lot of the movement in it is like last time. Luckily I am coming in from the same side of the stage as b4 so I don't need to swap hands. We also have to do a bit where we sign our right hand. It is OK for me but lots of people who are right handed are finding it hard to get the correct hand LOL. Julian woz recording some of the stuff today as well. We did a lot of stuff without words today as well. And some people were given sketches to do. Not saying if I am doing one, you'll have to wait till the show.
The annoying leader wosn't there again but sometimes today we probably could have done with her as we were getting a bit loud. Unfortunately someone woz sick today yuck which wozn't very nice. It's still not fair that some of the adults can bring tea in to where we are dancing but we get told it is water only.
Rehearsals are on Wednesday this week and then we are bag packing next Saturday at Asda but it is at the one near Borders so I don't know if I will be able to go. If not I'll CU on Sunday.

L8R's
T

Rehearsing again

2007-11-26T21:34:00.000Z

We're back rehearsing again. Our first rehearsal woz last week. Lots of my M8s from last time have gone though which is really bad. Most of the songs that we did wetre from last time so we had a head start on them which woz good. We also did some movement to them as well. Lunchtime woz mental as we were all jamed into the room at the end of the hall and the door to the toilets woz locked so there were 100 of us all trying to use 1 toilet. They did sort that out though and also got the other hall opened so we were allowed to use that instead. The annoying leader woz really in good form this week and woz yelling at evry1. I think she must have taken over from the lady who does admin as she is on holiday. Our producer was really good and Bert & Jeff are doing the dances which woz good. Near the end the boys & men had to do their dancing man act with sticks LOL. It's still not fair that the adults can go & get a cup of tea or coffee during rehearsal whilst we can only have water. it should be the same rules for evry1 in the cast
I missed the second weeks rehearsal coz I woz in london at the weekend. There woz a big show at the millennium dome called Live07 it was brilliant, wish I had been in it. Lots of people from other gang Shows in it, and Frenchy from our Gang Show woz in it as well. I got told that rehearsals were good on Sunday and Magpie told me that the annoying leader wosn't there either which would have made it even better. I got told that people were quiter than they were the week b4 when she kept shouting at us. Lets see wot happens next week. I don't think i'm needed at rehersals on Thursday so C U on Sunday

L8R's
T

Tomorrow

2007-11-17T17:56:00.000Z

Hi Tomorrow is the first day of Gang Show rehearsals. I'm well looking forward to it. I hope that loads of my m8s will b there.
Someone said that we r going to be doing sum of the stuff from the show that got cancelled. That would be good coz i really anjoyed doing razzle dazzle and all that jazz. I don't think they will be doing the same sketches tho coz one woz about Christmas.
See evry1 tomoz

L8R's
T

Not long Now

2007-11-04T18:00:00.000Z

Only two weeks to go now till our first rehearsal I can't wait. We were at the Scout fireworks at Lydiard Park last night and there were a few people from Gang Show there. Julian was in the Scouts tent along with the hopping Scout leader. I also saw Magpie and Salem's owner. Last week I went to see the Bristol Gang Show LOL It woz a gr8 evening. At one point they did a scene in a spooky house but it wasn't as good as our "Bump in the night" from last time. They also did Hard Knock Life which woz good apart from the mad stuff in the girls hair. They don't have any Guides in the Bristol show unlike ours.
Watch out for more regular updates of the BLOG once rehearsals start in 2 weeks

L8R's
T

Gang Show 2008

2007-10-04T17:53:00.000+01:00

We're back again. Swindon Gang Show is going to take place next year from March 5th-March 8th. We had our assessment day at the beginning of September at our new rehearsal venue. There were a lot of new people at rehearsals this year and a lot of people were missing. But as there were two assessments I hope that they were at the other one. I'm really looking forward to it. It is a year since we were rehearsiing for the show that didn't happen and 2 and a half years since our last show. I've been to watch a few shows since then though which was nice, but I am looking forward to getting back into rehearsals again.

L8R's
T

Cancelled

2006-12-21T18:05:00.000Z

Well the show did get cancelled.
We woz all disappointed about it, they tried to postpone it at first but it seemed that the theatre would take longer to sort out than they originally thought.
We did manage to have 2 concerts where we sung sum of the songs that we would have done. It wasn't a proper show as we couldn't do any dancing because it woz only a small school stage, but at least it woz something and we were able to invite our parents & friends to watch. Sum of the gang though just quit & didn't take part in the concert which I thought woz not very nice. Still it gave us more room on stage :-)
We'll be back again though so watch this blog.

L8Rs
T

Catch Up

2006-10-10T21:56:00.000+01:00

Wow is it that long since I have been on here. I've had problems with my PC :( but it is fixed now so I'm back. We have had a few rehearsals since I woz ere last and we have started to have our positions for most items now. We still haven't started the Christmas one yet but I'm sure we will soon. After the week where the annoying guide leader kept telling everyone off for breathing loudly it has started getting louder again. I'm waiting for the next chapter. I'm suprised she hasn't said anything to guitar boy yet. He can't keep still & is always tapping clicking or playing an imaginary drum kit.
We had a teacher in last week to go through Joyful Joyful with us. It woz good fun but took quite a long while for just 1 song. I saw the young ones doing hard knock life on Sunday, they are startin to look well good. Some of them do look funny though when they are supposed to be starvin. Perhaps we should do a Sunday rehearsal without the tuck shop and then get them to do it so they look natural.
Good news over 14's are going to be allowed down to the shop on Sunday from next week

L8R's
T

Asbestos

2006-09-13T09:44:00.000+01:00

There were rehearsals on Monday & Tuesday this week.
Monday woz the younger gang and Tuesday woz evry1. We set the Disney item which woz good. The annoying Guide leader did get very stressed with us tonight over the talkin. It seems to get to her more than it does to Sarah. At one point she made Lottie go outside for a"chat".
The big thing in the news this week is that they have found asbestos at the theatre and it is closed. They said in the paper that they found it in the roof space. Wot I don't get though is that they said that the levels measured are within the guidelines. I know asbestos is a problem (the first producer of the Swindon show died of an asbestos related disease) but if it is inside the safe level then do they really need to cancel evrything. I wonder if it is possible that it isn't within the safe level & they are just saying that so that the people who were in there recently don't panic. Anyway I'm sure they'll sort something out. I think there are 4 things that could happen
It is cancelled, it is delayed, it is moved, or it happens as planned.

L8Rs
T

Rehearsing Again

2006-09-10T20:09:00.000+01:00

Hi I'm bak 4 another show LOL
It's really good to C every1 again. Lots of the leaders from last time are missing. Robin, Robert, the one on the gate, and his wife (well I think they r married) Unfortunately the annoying guide leader is bak again. She woz having a go again today especially at Lydia. Lydia thinks that the leader hates her and she may be right. Remember last year she had a go at one of the other leaders, well she's not here this year. Bet the annoying one scared her off.
We had a really long morning. It started off with all the oliver stuff and then went into some of the Disney stuff but with no break. We were a bit quiet on sone of the songs though. Cum on Gang we can do better than that. We woz gasping for a drink by lunchtime. The afternoon woz easier and we did the dancing for Razzle dazzle but then different groups had breaks. Lots of people had hats for Razzle Dazzle. Al had a bowlr hat like Mr Ben & Julien had a hat like Woody from Toy Story. The costume people were well busy today & they fitted all the girls & ladies with skirts.
NE1 want to guess wot the letters mean on Join Hands, we seem to have MA ND UN & loads more. Had a bit of an incident today during rehearsals but I'm not going to say any more than that coz it isn't fair on the person it happened to.

C evr1 on Tuesday

L8Rs
T

Bath Gang Show

2006-06-04T15:16:00.000+01:00

Hi

I went to see the Bath Gang Show this weekend. They seem to get better every year. If any of them read this, well done to you all. Really strange, one of the men frm the Swindon show was working behind the bar, it was good to say hello. Seeing the Bath show reminded me it is only 3 weeks till our assessment for this year's show, can't wait to see evry1 again.
L8rs
T

If NE1 is still reading this, leave me a comment to let me know

2005-04-05T18:18:00.000+01:00

Hi

I've had loads of problems logging on lately but seem to have it sorted out.
It seems ages since Gang Show really missing everyone.
How come hadly anyone uses the cast message board.
If you are reading this and don't use the messageboard then please start :-)
Rather than do all my catching up in this posting I'll try and go back and catch up on the missing posts.
Lydia got an invite to Bath Gang show's party & she's taking me with her LOL

L8rs

T

Christchurch Gang Show

2005-04-03T22:42:00.000+01:00

Hi

I've just got back from a holiday in Bournemouth with my family it woz Brill.
While we were there we saw a banner for the Christchurch Gang Show so we went to see it. The man selling programmes said that 3 groups from Swindon had gone down there to see it. The show woz good but it could have been gr8 if the gang had just bothered to smile & look like they were enjoying themselves. It woz so different to Bath just a few days B4. It would have been gr8 if evr1 from Dancin in the Street could have gone down 7 taken over the Christchurch show & showed them how to do it. If we had performed like it Becky would have ripped our heads off then sewn them back on & riped them off again. They did do Chitty Chitty Bang Bang well, but that woz mainly solos & it woz the big numbers that they werent so good at. I thought their sketches were good though. I want to know how come they were allowed to do 8 songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when according to Ian we were only allowed to do a couple coz of copywrite.

BTW if you get a chance to eat at a Brewers Fare have the apple pie it's wikid!!!!!

L8Rs

T

Bath

2005-04-02T23:33:00.000+01:00

Went to see Bath Gang Show this week.
If any of the Swindon cast are reading this & didn't go, then why not?
It's not far to Bath by train & you can still be back in Swindon by 7:00. It woz even easier this year as Julian organised a coach trip Lydia, Scotty Dina, Leigh & Bert all went on the coach trip as did a load from our show. I went with Cat, & her mum.
The show woz Brill and the cast were so enthusuastic they really got the audience going.
Good opening & lots of good acts I think they did a few too many sketches, but coz they only have a small cast they need to do the sketches to let the others change. Loved the Monks.
The Blues brother bit woz good as well & so woz the sketch with the moby. Liked Christmas and the Boogie bit as well. Well done guys.
If you get a chance to see the Bath show then go, if you don't luv it then you need treatment.

L8Rs

T

Good Rehearsals

2005-02-08T07:44:00.000Z

This weekend’s rehearsals went really well. After last week which was awful, it seemed even better than it woz. It seemed as though we rehearsed just about everything on Sunday which woz really good. The props are starting to appear at rehearsals now, which makes it seem more realistic and you realise just how close we are to the show. In 4 weeks time we will be in the theatre. Sarah has sorted out a visit to the theatre for those of us that have never been before so I am looking forward to that. I watched the flower dance that the Cubs are doing, it woz funny, they are doing a ballet & Leia’s brother is at one end and he has to get it all wrong. At the same time Anna is dancing properly. It should be good.
On Sunday for some reason Julian woz running around wearing a long blond wig LOL I hope he is wearing it in one of the acts but I can’t think what. We have a girl with a really good voice singing a solo to dancing in the street whilst the rest of us dance, she woz using a microphone last time & her voice is wicked for an 11 year old.
On Monday night the adults were doing their laundry scene and out came the camera phones. If someone e-mails me a picture I’ll put it on this Weblog. We got to do the percussion thing on Sunday with all the different bits & pieces, it’s getting there now but we’re doing it again on Tuesday. There is one girl in some things & she is like corporal Jones in Dad’s Army in that she is always a second or two behind evry1 else. I hope she gets it all right by the show.
They showed our photos that they took for the programme this week. Mine woz OK. The only thing is most of us looked like the cast of the Simpsons (yellow) but they fix that in the photo editor. Todd especially looked just like Bart.
Lots of people have asked wot I look like, well if the photos are up again on Sunday, mine woz the one to the right of Chris.

L8Rs

T

The Latest

2005-01-24T16:03:00.000Z

Hi
I think we could be getting there. Rehearsals seem to be getting good now and we didn't have loads of people asking where they stand. Lots of people though are still unable to dance and sing for thriller. Mind you there is one Guide leader who has major trouble singing and dancing in anything. She is quite near the front in the opening & it is amusing to watch her co-ordination (hope she doesn't drive)
Hedge made the comment to our choreographer that it is difficult to keep the volume & dancing right when she is talking over her p.a.
I think that she woz a little upset. I don't think he woz saying she shouldn't do it, it woz just that it explains why people sometimes go a bit quiet.
One thing e.g. singing or dancing is easy
Two things at once e.g. singing & dancing is OK & we can normally do it
Three things at once singing dancing & listening, no chance unfortunately something has to give Wardrobe have started working in a big way now & people keep appearing wearing part of a costume or a wig LOL, also lots of the men in Steam Heat were trying dresses on!!!!!
People seemed to be talking a bit less in rehearsals but it would really help if the adults and older teens don't talk as it just encourages the rest of us to think that it doesn't really matter if we talk.
Unfortunately at the start of rehearsal Betts had to talk to everyone about some people being nasty to others. Not a very nice thing to hear especially as we are all Guides & Scouts.
Streetlife rehearsals start this week so that should be good fun.
L8Rs
T

Midweek Rehearsals

2005-01-15T07:08:00.000Z

Midweek rehearsals went well, Monday started with all the youngsters in rehearsing the big items and they have changed how & when they move in the finale then the older ones joined for half hour before the youngsters left. Because the running order has changed from before Christmas, the older ones who were singing Monster Mash are now going to be in thriller, so they had to learn the thriller dance LOL.

The evening ended with the adults doing Stem Heat which woz fun to watch.
Tuesday saw two sketches being rehearsed first of all b4 the youngsters did Hans Christian Anderson then after that it woz rehearsals for the Choir item. There are some tricky songs in it that means splitting up into different groups, but it woz really sounding great at the end.

You know how the papers do "separated at birth" pictures well I think they should come here & do one of Orlando Bloom (especially as Will Turner in PotC) and Robin. Jo is convinced that Robin is actually Orlando.

What is it with Wellies? Most wellies are black, and here in Swindon we also see a good number of green wellies as they are popular in the country, but Pink wellies with white polka dots!!!! No names mentioned, but she knows who she is.

L8Rs

Back after Christmas

2005-01-09T22:37:00.000Z

Hi

We are back at rehearsals after Christmas and unfortunately there were a few bits today where some of us hadn't learned our words properly. We need to sort it out or the production team will be getting fed up with us.
They keep going on at us about talking & fidgiting in the rehearsal room but this morning whilst we were setting the finale, the leaders at the back kept leaving their positions & loads of them even went and got themselves coffee!!!! Come on leaders it has to be fair for everyone we were thirsty as well so if we have to stick it so should they.
The annoying leader had a go at Howard for wearing a hoodie with the hood up. OK he looks like a dork with a hood up in rehearsals but it isn't exactly doing any harm is it, still as she isn't allowed to shout, I guess she needs to do something.
There is a really cute little Cub at the front in toot sweets, well she will be a Cub by the show, she's only a Beaver at the moment but she seems really good, and will really make the audience go aaah.
The other thing worth watching is one of the women singing monster mash, she has only been to a couple of rehearsals & is finding the movements difficult. LOL
Rest of rehearsals went OK and it woz good to see evry1 after Crimbo they are starting to talk about costumes now as well.

2 months today is our opening nite. Scary or wot

L8Rs
T

This week's Rehearsals

2004-12-14T08:09:00.000Z

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

This week's Rehearsals

2004-12-09T11:42:00.000Z

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

Cardiff & Rehearsals

2004-11-29T11:43:00.000Z

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

2004-11-23T12:01:00.000Z

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

Bristol & Rehearsals

2004-11-22T09:00:00.000Z

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

Second rehearsal

2004-11-15T22:02:00.000Z

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

2004-11-14T19:17:00.000Z

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

2004-10-21T11:13:00.000+01:00

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

Things I've been doing

2004-10-18T09:28:00.000+01:00

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

In the News

2004-09-28T18:31:00.000+01:00

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

2004-09-19T15:35:00.000+01:00

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

2004-09-15T15:56:00.000+01:00

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

Gilwell

2004-09-06T21:26:00.000+01:00

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

2004-08-23T21:00:00.000+01:00

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

2004-07-29T18:47:00.000+01:00

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

2004-07-25T16:55:00.000+01:00

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

2004-07-24T17:39:00.000+01:00

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

2004-07-24T16:34:00.000+01:00

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.