Penguin time at Gang Show 2024
Early Gang Show at Festival Theatre for third year
The Edinburgh Gang Show returns to the Festival Theatre tonight, Tuesday 29 October 2024, for its third outing at the venue while the Kings remains dark for refurbishment, with all the usual fare including a tribute to the Edinburgh Zoo penguins.
Featuring almost 250 young people from South East Scotland Scouts and Girl-guiding, Cubs and Brownies, this year’s show has been brought forward in the calendar, from is normal slot at the end of November in the week before the opening of the King’s Panto.
Alan Hunter addresses the Main Gang 2024, before the new members get their Red Neckies. Pic EGS
This will be the second year that Louise Hunter joins long-term director Andy Johnston at the helm of the show. She first appeared in Gang Show as a Brownie in 2002 before joining the main gang in 2003, the year in which Johnston first directed the show.
This will be Johnston’s 20th turn as Gang Show director. Looking forward to this week, he said: “The Gang have been working incredibly hard for many months now and can’t wait to hit the famous Festival theatre stage to entertain the Edinburgh public.
“As co-directors, Louise and I are immensely proud of each and every one of these brilliant Scouts and Guides and can’t wait to see them spreading Gang Show magic this week.”
excited
Young Scout Lochlyn Aitken said he is looking forward to this week’s show: “I’ve been in the Edinburgh Gang Show for a few years now and I have always been really excited for show week. There is nothing as exciting as being on the stage performing! I’m sure everyone else in the cast feels the same.
“It’s really good seeing the show come together – I think people are going to really enjoy it, I know I am.”
Lochlyn added an on-point note about ticket availability: “There is still an opportunity for people to come and see us, especially on Thursday. Who needs trick or treating when they can be entertained by us instead.”
Back stage in the Festival Theatre with the Wardrobe team ironing some of this year’s costumes. Pic: EGS
Fellow Gang Show member Beth McVitttie says she is really excited going into Gang Show week. And she knows a thing or two about performing, having appeared with Southern Light as one of the von Trapp children in their production of Sound of Music.
“It’s always so much fun and brings everyone closer,” she says. “It’s also an amazing chance to see everyone’s hard work put together and not just the Main Gang’s hard work but everyone backstage as well.
“It’s always an amazing opportunity to perform with Gang Show and I look forward to it every year even when rehearsals are long and tiring, I always know it’s worth it to sing and dance on stage with such amazing people.”
great tunes
Always worth a look, even if you don’t have a young person in the cast, this year’s Gang Show promises plenty of great tunes, according to Johnston.
He says: “This year’s show features the usual eclectic mix of material with something for everybody. Songs from shows as varied as 13, & Juliet and Jekyll & Hyde sit alongside The Gang’s tributes to Elvis, George Gershwin and Edinburgh Zoo’s penguins.
“Over two hundred ridiculously talented young people will take you on a journey from Rio de Janeiro to the Wild West, stopping off in Edwardian London with Sherlock Holmes, via Prestonpans with the legendary Gang Show Giraffe!”
Listing
Edinburgh Gang Show 2024
Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT.
Tue 29 Oct – Sat 2 Nov 2024
Evening: 7pm; Sat mat: 2pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Early stages of the Gang Show’s get in at the Festival theatre. Pic: EGS
ENDS
