Crewe Gang Show

Crewe Gang Show

Gang Show History (Crewe)

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As we draw closer to our 2008 show and celebrate yet another decade of continued outstanding achievement for both South West Cheshire and all those who have been a part of this proud Gang Show family. To this present day the accolade of pride, entertainment, fun, laughter and colour is still experienced by those involved with Crewe Gang Show, and all those from near and far who come see the show.

But all this is a far cry from those humble beginnings in 1938 when for two nights in the Town Hall, long since demolished, the Scouts of Crewe put on their first public show, referred to then as a ‘Scout Concert’.

During the intervening years we’ve come a long way. We’ve grown, we’ve prospered and we’ve received the highest possible praise and recognition from Ralph Reader, Mr Gang Show himself.

HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN?

Locally it had been the custom for many years at the South West Cheshire Scouts Annual General Meeting, which was usually held in the Town Hall, entertainment would be provided after the official business of the evening by two or three Scout Groups. These offerings were always well received and proved to be very popular with the large gathering which always attended these meetings.

“In 1937 I can well remember being taken, with other members of our Scout Group, to the Odeon Cinema in Crewe, where together with Scouts from all over the District we saw a special showing of the Gang Show Film”. - Peter Taylor (Crewe Gang Show 1938 – present day)

In 1937 during a District Executive Meeting, it was agreed that our District had its own show. Jimmy Stahl, Geoff Vernon and Norman Bayley assisted by Geoff Fox and Doris Muckley took on the task of producing that first show, ‘Flying High’.

	Flying High, with a cast of 150, was presented in the Town Hall, Crewe on Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd February 1938. The show was a success both in terms of finance and support, which inspired the production team to plan for a future show. In the 1938 show it is important to acknowledge the debt that we owed to the Stoke on Trent Scout Association and Screamline for the tremendous help and assistance which they so freely gave, particularly the late Marshall Amor.

	‘Gang Ahoy’, the 1939 show, was held once again in the Town Hall but on this occasion a gamble was taken and the hall was booked for three nights, the 7th, 8th and 9th February 1939. Again the public response was excellent and so once again the show proved to be both successful and financially viable.	Jimmy Stahl 1938 Producer

Plans for a 1940 production were halted due to the start of the Second World War in September 1939, many Leaders and older members of the cast were soon wearing different uniforms in the service of their King and Country.

THE POST WAR YEARS

The late 1940’s were rather grim years. The war was over, the servicemen had returned to their home towns and villages but we still had rather bleak conditions to endure whilst all the necessary changes were made from a war economy to a peaceful existence. However, at the Executive Meeting held on 25th June 1948 a letter was received from the Scouters’ Council which requested that the committee give permission to Jimmy Stahl, Ken Hockenhull, Geoff Vernon, Norma Bayley, George Bee and Joe Shaw to produce a Gang Show for autumn 1948.

‘Joyride 1948’, the 1948 show, was again held in the Town Hall, and again ran for three successful nights, 23rd, 24th and 25th November. The huge success of the 1948 show left the production team many problems to solve. Where to hold the next show? How many nights shall we stage the show if we are to accommodate all who wish to see us?

John Stahl, supported by Geoff Vernon and Norman Bayley, was keen to move the show into a ‘proper theatre’, and after much discussion and debate, he succeeded in persuading the Executive Committee to hire the ‘New Theatre Crewe’ from the Terrence Byron Company for one whole week. On Monday 12th December 1949, ‘Joyride 1949’ was presented, for one whole week, to an audience drawn from all over South Cheshire.

Once again success brought with it problems. Whilst the cast were clambering for a show in 1950 and the treasurer was beaming broadly at the new money flowing into the District accounts, the production team realized that the effort required to stage a show of high standard each year was just not possible and it was agreed that the next show would be held in 1951, thus establishing our two year show pattern, which continues to this present day.

Shows were produced in 1951 and 1953; the 1951 show being called ‘Festival Joyride’ after the Festival of Britain which had been held in London earlier that year, 1953 saw us revert to its established name ‘Joyride’.

THE TROUBLED YEARS

The late 1950’ and the late 1960’s were very difficult years for the show as we ran into serious problems, none of which were of our own making. The problems revolved round the ‘New Theatre’, which up to 1955 had been owned and run by Terrence Byron Company, who had for over 30 years staged weekly variety shows, but as television grew more popular in the 1950’s, the theatre, like hundreds of others throughout the country, was no longer a viable proposition and so it was closed and put up for sale. This resulted in our proposed show for 1955 being cancelled and the prospects for future shows were very bleak indeed. Crewe Borough Council however stepped into the breach and in 1955 purchased the theatre and formed the Crewe Theatre Trust, which was to run the theatre on behalf of the Council with financial support from the Arts Council.

In 1956 we were back in business with our show, this time using the title, ‘Gang Show’. Again a highly successful show was produced. The theatre was booked solid for the whole week and hundreds of people braved the hard wooden benches in the ‘Gods’ in order to see us.

Problems with the theatre dogged us in our efforts to put on a show in 1958 and 1959. It became apparent that the ‘professionals’, who were in the theatre at that time, resented giving up ‘their theatre’ to a ‘bunch of amateurs’. Fortunately we were not denied and due to the persistence of Ken Hockenhull, we managed to book the theatre for November 1960, and so after a break of four years, we were back on stage once again.

1962 saw us once again on conflict with the Management of the Lyceum Theatre, as it was now called. The management’s attitude this time seemed to be that a bunch of Scouts prancing around on the stage would interfere with the regular Bingo sessions, which were obviously regarded as being more important than a live show. Ken Hockenhull, with valuable assistance from Geoff Vernon, once again turned up trumps and we were back in business. For this show there were significant changes. Jim Stahl stepped down from his role producer position and when one remembers that he had led the production team since that first show in 1938, it shows what a tremendous debt we owed to Jim, for without his drive and enthusiasm, it is doubtful whether we would ever have had a local Gang Show. Jim didn’t fade away, he stayed as Assistant to our new Producer, Aubery Brazier.

	It was in 1964 on the occasion of our Jubilee Gang Show, that we reached a great landmark in the history of our show, for we were now admitted to full Gang Show status and the cast were entitled to wear the ‘Red Necker' with the special Gang Show Emblem. This permission is not given lightly; it is only shows which are considered to have attained a suitably high standard, who are granted this privilege. Naturally all who were associated with the show were highly delighted, for we all felt that at long last, we had received the recognition which many felt was long overdue. Both of Aubery’s shows were successful and once again the Gang played to a theatre full to capacity with a highly appreciated audience. These shows added greatly to our prestige which had been building steadily over the years. Unfortunately for us, shortly after the show, British Rail saw fit to transfer Aubery to Derby, which meant that we lost his services. This was a great blow and left us searching for a replacement.

Aubery Brazier

1966 arrived and reluctantly the Committee was forced to cancel the proposed show. However, later in 1966 the Committee learnt that Ray Davenport was interested in producing a show, and after much debate, Ray was appointed Producer and asked to present a show in 1967.

We were back once again and Gang Show 1967 was presented at the Lyceum Theatre for seven performances. The show was very successful, but this was the Show when many of the Producer’s problems, through no fault of his own, occurred during the week of the show in the theatre. Normally when you get to the theatre it’s too late to start worrying about the show, but on this occasion the ‘flu bug’ struck, and members of the cast, young and old, went down like ninepins. There were times during the early part of the week when backstage looked more like a Casualty Clearing Station than anything else. Production numbers had to be altered, understudies were drafted in, but in spite of everything, the show, in the best tradition of theatre, went on with an audience almost totally unaware of the difficulties backstage.

1969 we were yet again having difficulties with the theatre. Protracted correspondence failed to solve the problem and consequently the proposed 1969 show had to be abandoned. We managed to obtain the theatre for 1970 and Ray Davenport was again invited to produce a show. Serious problems arose obtaining music, which we required and when the time came to assemble the Cast, whilst Ray had a full programme planned, he had not been able to solve the music problem. A hastily convened Gang Show Sub Committee meeting agreed that under the circumstances, the show could not go ahead, and so the 1970 show bit the dust.

	Ray Davenport

Throughout 1971 the Gang Show Committee met regularly, spurred on by Ken Hockenhull who was most anxious that the show not die. A theatre date for 1972 was agreed with the theatre management in spring 1971, but we now ran into problems of obtaining a Producer. Discussions went on over many weeks, all to no avail. It seemed impossible to find anyone who was prepared to tackle the job. At a meeting held in May 1971, it was suggested that instead of searching for a single Producer, that the show should be produced by a team of Producers, which would be led by a non-executive member of the team.

Ian Wareham agreed to continue as Musical Director. We had a new Stage Manager, Mike Smith, and a new Choreographer, Marjorie Harrison. The Production Team was made up as follows:
	• Norman Bayley • Ray Davenport • Graham Swallow • Alan George • John Haynes • Wilf Edwards • Peter Taylor (Team Leader)
And so this team set to work to produce a show, and as subsequent events have proved, we moved out of our period of difficulty, for the 1972 production format pointed the way ahead and it is safe to say, we have now successfully built on, modified and developed the production methods until now we have a team which cannot be bettered anywhere in the United Kingdom.

	THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES The 1972 show was successfully produced and met with the approval of our capacity audience. We did however have our problems, but thanks to a grand team effort, we pulled through. Learning from our mistakes, the Production Team was reduced in size for our 1974 and 1976 shows, and consisted of Graham Swallow, Alan George, Norman Bayley, Wilf Edwards and Peter Taylor. This was a great improvement and led to a much more harmonious atmosphere. Production Assistants for the Cubs were introduced, and Tony Stockton and Chris Titley joined the team.

Norman Bayley

The 1974 Show was notable for the fact that we could no longer boast ‘all our Girls are Boys’, for into the Cast came, for the first time, a line of girls. This move didn’t favour with everyone and the Production Team had to accept a strong degree of criticism and downright hostility; one Leader even withdrawing from the Cast. It was at this time that Yvonne and Gail Nevitt took over the choreography and it is perfectly fair to say that the dancing and dance routines had improved steadily under their direction.

It was following the 1976 Show that we suffered double tragedy, when both Norman Bayley and Margery Broadhurst died. The lost left Crewe Gang Show with a huge gap to fill. Norman had been involved with the show and its music since its birth in 1938.

During the ‘get in’ at the theatre for the 1978 Show, we were presented with serious difficulties, which led to us consider the viability of having the theatre for only one week. As had been the practice in previous years, we were allowed into the theatre from midnight on the Saturday, when our Stage Manager and his team moved in to set up the stage, hanging clothes, sets and lighting etc… Probably due to the fact that we had more sets, more scenery and more lights than ever before, the stage team found it impossible to have the stage ready for the dress rehearsal at 2pm on the Sunday. At 11pm we were forced to abandon the dress rehearsal and send the Cast home, after only rehearsed the first half of the show. A worried Production Team remained in the theatre until the early hours of the morning, trying desperately to salvage a show that was in grave danger of not opening on the Monday night. We did open on Monday night, thanks to the valiant efforts of the stage staff, many of who took a day off work in order to make certain that all was ready in time for curtain up. In spite of all the problems, the show ran smoothly and passed off with only the odd minor hitch. The show was a success, but we were all aware how close to disaster we had been, and consequently resolved that before another show, there would have to be some major changes.

Major changes there were. After much discussion, the Gang Show Sub Committee recommended that for future shows, we would hire the theatre for two weeks and run the show for ten performances. It was felt that by adopting this format, we would not only solve the problems encountered by the stage staff, but we would also give the Cast three nights when they could rehearse on the theatre stage prior to opening night. The move to hiring the theatre for a fortnight proved highly successful and we continued to follow up this pattern after the 1980 Show. It was during the run up to the 1980 Show that Ken Hockenhull died. Ken, our District Association Chairman and Show Business Manager, had been actively involved with the show since 1948, and his loss came as a great shock to us all.

The 1980 Show was the one which all who were associated with, will never forget. We were successful in persuading the man himself, Ralph Reader, to see the show. Ralph stayed over the weekend with us and thoroughly enjoyed our hospitality. His praise for our show was quite spontaneous and he wrote in a subsequent letter: “With no hesitation, I say again, it was one of the finest Gang Shows I have ever seen”. Praise indeed, from the Master himself. Sadly, although Ralph expressed a desire to be invited to our future shows, this was not to be for he was too ill to attend in 1982, and he passed away on 18th May 1982. Ralph’s passing was mourned world wide, for he was the creator and architect of that world wide fraternity of Gang Shows.
	Ralph backstage meeting the 1980 Cast


	Tony Stockton, Ralph, Graham Swallow

	The Shows in the 80’s have been marked by steady development, progress and an increase in all round professionalism. It was during this period in time, where we experienced on a regular basis, standing ovations as the curtain closed. Scenery and sets for each show were designed by Dave Robinson and constructed by a team of carpenters and painters, led initially by Dave Hollinshead, who took over the Stage Manager reins in 1980. Costumes became more sophisticated and teams of sewers led by Jean Fewtrell, Caroline Swallow and Brenda Howell produced a greater volume of costumes. The shows were better lit, much more thought was given to planning the stage lighting and where necessary professional advice was always sought.

Graham Swallow

Stage properties, a mammoth undertaking were provided by Derek Swallow who for the 1980’s and 1990’s shows, had the daunting task of finding hundreds of items as diverse as a Ship’s bell, bentwood chairs, and even a bird in a cage for one of our productions. No matter what was required, Derek always managed to conjure up the required items. During the eighties the Production Team had been strengthened. Graham Swallow was now firmly placed in the role of Producer, leading an enthusiastic team of Alan George, Tony Stockton, Johnny Pennington, Bill Elliott and Ian Platt. In the background ever ready with helpful advice, our consultant Producer, Wilf Edwards.

In 1986 we were, once again, able to have a full orchestra in the theatre pit after a break of 19 years. The orchestra was gathered and led by our Musical Director Martin Hassall who took over this role in 1984. On the 21st April 1988 South West Cheshire Scouts stepped out onto the stage of the Lyceum Theatre in Crewe, and presented their Golden Jubilee Gang Show to the public. For ten performances, the cast gave their all to an audience filling the Theatre and at the end of each evening, sending them on their way happy and delighted after seeing a first class three hour show. The 1988 show also saw one of our largest sets we had ever made. The re-production of the famous ‘HMS Gang Show’ item, that Ralph had designed and created for the London Gang Show.
	The 1988 Production Team

THE NINETIES AND A NEW MILLENNIUM

In the 1990’s the shows became more spectacular, with bigger items and more complex scenery and lighting. It was during the 90’s where Graham Swallow took Crewe Gang Show to greater heights, and as Ralph said during a documentary he made in the 70’s, “even though the Gang Show is an amateur show, it still has to be as good and enjoyable for the audience as the big West End Show’s”. Show’s in 1990, 92, 95 and 1997, saw people coming from far and wide to see the Gang Show that Ralph rated as one of the best he had seen. Martin Hassall gave up the position as Musical Director after the 1990 show, and for the 1992 and 1995 show’s we were lucky enough to acquire the talents of Paul Spencer as our Musical Director. Sadly due to Paul’s work load as a professional musician, song writer and creator/front man of the chart topping group, ‘DarioG’, he had to give up the position as Musical Director.

Sadly after the 1997 show, due to work commitments and other matters, Graham had to give up the reigns as Crewe Gang Show Producer, which was a blow as he had put Crewe Gang Show firmly on the map and top of the table in the 80’s.

In 2002 Paul Boskett was appointed as the new Producer of Crewe Gang Show, at which Paul still holds this position to this very day.

WHAT NEXT?

What does the future have in store, will the show eventually make its Centenary?

Whatever happens, we hope and trust that future generations of Scouts, will have the privilege of being part of this great Scouting activity and that they too will be able to reflect on the lyrics Ralph Reader wrote in the 1930’s:-

‘These are the times we shall dream about, and we’ll call them the good old days’.

Thank you to Peter Taylor for supplying all the information for the history of Crewe Gang Show. Peter is the only member of Crewe Gang Show at this present day, who was one of the original Cast members at the birth of Crewe Gang Show, back in 1938. We salute you out of respect and pride, for everything you have done for and given Crewe Gang Show from 1938 to the present day. It’s a great honour to be a member of the family that you and all the others started, back in 1938.