Biggleswade Gang Show

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VIPs who visited our performances

Show 20/03/10

Photos courtesy of Peter Sutherst, Bedfordshire Scouts Media Manager

Also copy of press release given to Biggleswade Chronicle:


23 March 2010

The Gang’s All Here

A massive sell out audience attended the Biggleswade Gangshow in March at Stratton Upper School to see a record cast of Scouts and Guides give star turns for almost three hours. This Guide centenary celebration was a combined Scout and Guide effort that had all the hallmarks of a Ralph Reader extravaganza. There were sketches galore and dance routines that would do justice to a west end stage. Bedfordshire Guides County Commissioner said, “Congratulations on a brilliant show. The cast, crew and supporters must have worked really hard. Thank you so much for inviting me.” Biggleswade Scouts District Commissioner Jan Brooker added, “What a fantastic effort and a great tribute to the dedicated team who organised it.”

How do you take a record 283 excited young people age 5 to 20 and mould them into a musical extravaganza for the good folk of Biggleswade to enjoy? Can you really blend in nearly 30 songs, dance routines and sketches so they look like they were planned that way? For producer Nick Gurney of the Biggleswade Scout and Guide Gangshow this has all been routine stuff for the last six months. On 20th March in Stratton Upper School it all come together for an audience of over 500 people to sit back and appreciate. And they were soon foot tapping to the music.

Back in 1932 impresario Ralph Reader took over a London theatre to present the first ever Scout Gangshow. The idea was preposterous. Who in their right mind would take a bunch of teenage youths and ask them to perform sketches, dance routines and sing for a paying audience? But it worked. And today they reckon that a gangshow is wowing an audience somewhere in the world every day.

The Biggleswade Gangshow has been Nick Gurney’s baby ever since 1978. You can’t fault his enthusiasm. But this year this dyed-in-the-wool Scout had a new challenge. He had to hand over the gangshow baton to the local guides so they could celebrate their 100th birthday in style. And what a show it was.

His co-producers on the team included his wife Babs. (Would you believe that he wooed her backstage at a gangshow in 1979?) She is a Guide Leader and brings an element of calm to the Gurney household. The other is his sister in law Guide Leader Jackie Neville. Quite a family.

The result of their efforts was a medley of acts put together like grandma’s patchwork quilt. It shouldn’t work at all but it did and the result was a glorious mixture of colour, sound, music and laughter. For if there is one thing the Scout and Guide motto still teaches you and it’s how to smile at all life’s challenges.

One Brownie, ten year old Cathy Olphin, summed it up perfectly. She said, “I was chosen to narrate the story of Cinderella and the words sounded so much better when I smiled.” Then there’s pianist Joan Tolson who is still smiling after 65 years in the Guide Movement.

The celebration show ran for two outstanding performances. And would you believe they aim to do it all again in March, 2013.

Dress Rehearsal 13/03/10

coverage on local news based news station

Rehearsals 13/02/10

Photos courtesy of Peter Sutherst, Bedfordshire Scouts Media Manager

Also copy of press release given to Biggleswade Chronicle:

5 March 2010

Record Gangshow Cast To Perform To Sell-out Audience

Biggleswade Scout and Guide Gangshow has already broken all records. The cast of 283 is a record for any gangshow in the UK and it will perform to capacity audiences at Stratton Upper School in a little over a week’s time.

This year the gangshow has a strong girl element as the Guides celebrate their 100th birthday. It is an anniversary that has brought out the very best in Guiding and Scout as the senior movement (by three years) good-naturedly makes way for their younger colleagues.

Producer of many gangshows, Nick Gurney has two co-producers to keep him in check. One is Guide Leader Jackie Neville and the other is Nick’s wife Babs a Guide Commissioner whom he courted on the stage of the 1979 gangshow.

The Trefoil Guild of retired Guides is set to give their all with a medley of old Guide songs. Some are a little risqué they say.

The 1st Biggleswade Guides have secret routine which no one has seen yet covering 100 years of Guiding. But all will be revealed on the night.

Romping Rainbow Guides and Brownie dancing queens will show flashes of music and movement in a carefully choreographed act from the five to ten year olds. Like all the cast they have been rehearsing regularly for over three months.

And the Scouts get a chance to shine with ‘One man went to mow’ along with more dogs than you can shake a stick at. Somehow they weave this in to a sketch on the theme of ‘Bob-a-job’ The show will end with a traditional campfire sing song with lots of audience involvement.

Rehearsals 06/2/10

Photos courtesy of Peter Sutherst, Bedfordshire Scouts Media Manager

Also copy of press release given to Biggleswade Chronicle:


8 February 2010

Biggleswade Centenary Gangshow Has A Cast of 170 Young Stars

Over 170 young stars are shaping up to give Biggleswade a centenary gangshow to remember. Billed as the cast of the century, these Scouts and Guides have been rehearsing since November to give folk of the town a show they will talk about for years. It will also be an extravaganza to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the Guide Movement in 1910.

With a history going back 35 years, the producers have something to beat. But they are more than up to the challenge. They have gathered together almost 30 traditional songs, dance routines and sketches that will thrill their public. Back in 1975 the Gangshow played to audiences of 90 in the hall of Trinity Methodist Church. This year they expect over 500 folk from all over the county to their two performances in the much bigger venue of Stratton Upper School.

The sheer scale of the operation takes your breath away. There are 173 young stars aged from five to 20 supported by 38 leaders. Backstage a crew of 12 will make sure everything runs smoothly and a lighting and sound team will try to keep up with the fast moving acts.

Producer Nick Gurney who ran his first Gangshow in 1978 said, “It’s wonderful to see so many young people working together to produce a show that has all the ingredients of a west end musical. There are few other places where youngsters get the chance to experience the thrill of performing on stage, make life-long friendships and entertain paying audiences. The young cast have another 150 hours of rehearsals in front of them before the curtain rises on the first performance but already they are looking like real professionals. I’m proud of them.”

Pianist Joan Tolston of the Trefoil Guild who joined the Brownies 65 years ago said, “I really enjoy coming to these shows to put the girls and boys through their musical paces. We have 28 songs to rehearse and many of them have dance numbers as well. In Guides you retire as a leader at 65 but the Trefoil Guild allows you to keep going. It’s wonderful.”

Emma Warner, a 15 year old Explorer Scout from Biggleswade remarked, “This is all about Guides and Scouts having the time of their lives. For me it gives me the self confidence to stand up in front of a huge audience and perform. It will be good experience for next year when I attend the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden.”

Ten year old Brownie Guide Cathy Olphin of the 1st Northill and Ickwell Pack added, “My role is to narrate the story of Cinderella and for that you need to have a clear voice. I was lucky to be chosen from the whole pack. I want to do drama at school and perhaps perform in the Sound of Music so this will be a great experience.”

The celebration show will run for two performances on Saturday 20th March at Stratton Upper School. And tickets are available from Satchells Estate Agents in the High Street. You can get a preview of the show and the people involved on the website: www.Biggleswadegangshow.org.uk.

Rehearsals 23/1/10

Photos courtesy of Peter Sutherst, Bedfordshire Scouts Media Manager

Also copy of press release given to Biggleswade Chronicle:


24 January 2010

Centenary Scout And Guide Gangshow Takes Shape

Around 150 Scouts, Guides and leaders crowded into St Andrew’s Church last Saturday for the first of the rehearsals for this year’s gangshow. It was a masterpiece of military organisation by stage director Chris Wells and producers Nick and Babs Gurney and Jackie Neville who also devote their spare time running Scout Groups and Guide Companies. For three hours proud parents escorted over 120 enthusiastic youngsters for their rehearsals in a seemingly never ending procession. This special gangshow is to be a celebration of the centenary of the Girl Guide movement started in 1910 and headed for many years by Chief Guide Olave Baden Powell, the wife of Robert the World Chief Scout.

The church itself with its high roof and rich atmosphere gave each group the opportunity to go through their words with piano accompaniment and the enthusiastic encouragement of producer Nick Gurney. Meanwhile, in the annexe, stage director Chris Wells laid out a plan of the stage for the show’s action-packed choreography and numerous sketches.

True to form, the first rehearsal had its odd moment of fluffed lines and dance movements that did not quite go as planned. Without giving any secrets away, an all-girl cast of Cinderella had Prince Charming and the discarded slipper. One not so ugly sister wore UG boots and the other sported a pair of well worn trainers. So you just knew that Cinderella was the pretty one with the ballet flats.

Later, in a tricky dance routine, one of the Brownie Guides found music with movement not quite her cup of tea. The moment was not lost on the stage director who needed a second and then a third run through before he was satisfied. But you were somehow reassured that it will all be alright on the night. The next rehearsal will include a photo shoot in uniform and a dress rehearsal is scheduled for the week before the event. A special treat for audience and cast alike was the French number with plenty of Ó-la-las! After the rehearsal a breathless Nick Gurney said, “This looks like being our best gangshow yet. And a real highlight for the Guide’s centenary.”

The celebration show will run for two performances on Saturday 20th March at Stratton Upper School. And tickets are available from Satchells Estate Agents in the High Street. You can get a preview of the show and the people involved on the website: .