Months of rehearsals will come to life later this month as Scouts from across Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough take the stage for the return of the Nelson Gang Show at Theatre Royal.
The cast will perform four shows from July 30 to August 1 after spending the past five months preparing a fast-paced programme packed with comedy, music and dance.
Co-directors Bridget and Michael Smith are leading their fifth Gang Show since reviving the production in 2018 after it had been absent from Nelson for 26 years. Gang Shows were staged locally during the 1980s before the tradition disappeared until the pair brought it back as a biennial event.
Auditions for this year’s production began in February, with the cast committing to five-hour rehearsals every Sunday. They have also attended two rehearsal camps, with the latest focused on polishing each performance before the curtain rises.
“My favourite part of rehearsals is trying on all the different handmade costumes and getting to learn some new things,” says Jake Hall, one of the Scout actors set to appear on stage.
Bridget says, the Gang Show is about creating an enjoyable experience for both performers and audiences. “It’s a variety show put on by Scouts to make everybody laugh, it’s just a fun thing for everybody of all ages to see”.
She says that people do not need to know anything about Gang Shows to enjoy the performance.
“We just want people to come and experience it. Even if you don’t know what a Gang Show is, it’s something we want people in the Nelson area to come and see. It’s fun for anyone and all ages, and that sort of fun is what brings it all together.”
The cast includes Scouts and Scout leaders aged between 10 and 21-plus, supported by parents working behind the scenes on sets, costumes, props, choreography and vocals.
Bridget says that the show gives young people the chance to develop confidence and showcase talents not usually associated with Scouting.
“It’s so nice to be able to get the Scouts doing something different than what people would normally picture Scouts doing.”
For Bridget and Michael, directing the Gang Show is also about giving today’s young people the same opportunities they enjoyed growing up. Both were performers in the show themselves as teens in Dunedin, and seeing the cast develop over months of rehearsals makes the work worthwhile.
“I love it. One of the main reasons Mike and I always keep coming back is because we were on stage when we were younger, and we always wanted to give back to the cast. This is our way of doing that, because we enjoy these moments and being able to see the kids shine is what it’s all about.”
The Nelson Gang Show will be performed at Theatre Royal on July 30 and 31, with two performances on August 1.
