Gang Show 2016 Pictured
Looking good at the Kings!
With the Gang Show 2016 still rocking the stage of the King’s Theatre, we are more than happy to publish a selection of pictures from all different numbers.
Our thanks to the photographers, Michael Walker and Ryan Buchanan, for taking such fab shots – and to Scottie Walker for organising things so that we can publish them on here. And here is Act 1. If you click on the images they should open in a larger version.
Gang Show 2016: The Opening. Photo: Michael Walker
This was a year that the Gang took a bit of a different turn in the structure of the show, with greater emphasis on integrating songs with sketches – or rather having songs grow naturally out of the preceding sketch. But it still played to its strengths, particularly with the opening and closing numbers. Here’s the dance troupe at the head of the opening number.
Schooldays – the junior gang having a ball. Photo Ryan Buchanan
The first big number was Schooldays, a medley of song from Lloyd Weber’s laters: School of Rock. Which just happened to open in the West End of London this week.
Schooldays: The kids in the school yard are disgruntled! Photo: Ryan Buchanan.jpg
It was a bit of a slow burning start on opening night, to be honest. But its staging had strong overtones of Pink Floyd’s The Wall.
Schooldays: Where did the Rock go? Photo Ryan Buchanan
Then it was straight into comedy with a number called It’s Hard to be the Bard, set in the court of Mary Queen of Scots. For some reason Shakespeare turned up.
It’s Hard To Be The Bard – David Coventry and dancers. Photo: Ryan Buchanan
And there he is. Then, because he could, director Andy Johnston let the sketch morph into a scene from the current Broadway hit: Something Rotten. And whizz off into A Musical, from the show.
Helen Hunter (right) in A Musical. Photo: Ryan Buchanan
Which is peopled with outrageous characters from musicals. Quite bizarre. Quite a taster for Something Rotten as it turns out.
Cub Party. Photo: Ryan Buchanan
It’s a hundred years since the cubs were first formed. So they got a whole section to themselves to celebrate the fact. Just the 50 on stage at one time!
A tribute to Mom. Photo Ryan Buchanan
The fifth section focussed on songs with Mother in their heart. it was a chance for the brownie troupe to get up on stage and give it laldy.
Jessica Lyall sings Mama. Photo: Ryan Buchanan
And also for the diminutive Jessica Lyall to get up on the back of the stage and let rip. She might have appeared dwarfed by her surroundings. Her voice certainly was not!
Can’t Stop The Beat, the Hairspray medley. Photo Ryan Buchanan
And so into the Act 1 closing number, with Can’t Stop the Beat – the closest the show got to a straightforward medley from the musical. There was plenty of dance action, as you might suppose in a medley of songs from Hairspray.
Kayleigh Johnstone sings I Know Where I’ve Been. Photo: Ryan Buchanan
Not to forget a big belter of a number for Kayleigh Johnstone, who has the voice to give I Know Where I’ve Been a lovely vocal work-out.
So, now it is half time. Feel free to wander off for a while. Take a selfie. Grab something cold from the fridge – or make a lovely mug of cocoa. And we’ll be back with Act Two shortly.
Here are the images from Act 2: Gang Show Act 2 Pics.
And if you haven’t read the review of the show yet, you can find it here: ★★★★☆ Ambitious.
Listing
Edinburgh Gang Show 2016
(Running time 2 hours and 45 minutes with one interval).
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ
Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 November 2016.
Evenings: 7pm; Matinee, Sat: 2.15pm.
Tickets and details: http://www.edtheatres.com/gangshow
Ends
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