the gang show
at the london gang show’s 50th anniversary reunion in march 1982, ralph recalled many highlights of his gang show career, remembering such events as the first gang show performance and the royal air force gang shows, among other things .
for latest information and updates follow the brisbane gang show on facebook or instagram .
b. p wrote to ralph reader about the london gang show ...
as the oldest gang show in nsw and the third oldest in australia, the kirrawee gang show has provided the opportunity to literally thousands of scouts and guides from the south metropolitan region and beyond to show off their theatrical talents .
melbourne gang show is an annual youth musical presented by the scouts and guides of melbourne .
in 1974, ralph made the decision to produce his last london gang show that year. although the london gang show would eventually perform for the last time in that year, other gang shows continued to flourish. ralph also found time to write some more songs, and occasionally made personal appearances in some gang show performances .
a secret; and these two things together make up the story of the
gang show
.
the basingstoke gang show is the best - selling amateur theatre production in hampshire .
read more
grab your tickets as the cast and crew of canberra gang show 2018 take you on the journey of a lifetime .
melbourne gang show wouldn' t be possible without the generous support of a number of friends and supporters across the community .
the kirrawee gang show started in 1959 with a two night debut season at the sutherland school of arts. the cast for this show came from 1st sutherland and 2nd sutherland (armco) and consisted of big musical ensembles and sketches. the concept for the show stemmed from gordon’s time in england and his time with the south west london gang show under the direction of ralph reader. the tickets for these first two shows were quickly sold out and the show was such a success that it was decided that there must be another kirrawee gang show .
thank you to darling downs and gympie for your amazing support of the gang’s 2 regional tours. the gang will be visiting gold coast in august to offer another 1 hour taste of the brisbane gang show. information on the gold coast performances will be released in mid july 2018 .
in the 58 years since the first season, the kirrawee gang show has grown to include scouts and guides sourced predominantly from within the south metropolitan region. we’ve staged the show at many venues throughout the sutherland shire & st. george area with the rockdale town hall being the venue for the 2017 show .
performers including peter sellers, dick emery, tony hancock, harry secombe and max bygraves were involved in the show early in their careers, and they were instrumental in building the gang show tradition. after the second world war, london gang show claimed the honour of being the first amateur show to give a royal command performance. even today, cumberland gang show has had former cast members in the production of the musical sensation
les miserables
,
phantom of the opera
and performing on stage and t. v. in other productions .
stood rooted to the spot .
the gang' s all here !
the gang' s all here!' that' s it! that was the title we had been looking for. we were a gang and the gang was all here. yes sir, i thought, that' s it .
gang show is a spectacular musical comedy show performed by 70 scouts and guides selected from all over otago and southland. you will be amazed at the singing, acting and dancing skills of the young cast who have been rehearsing for 5 months! featuring stunning sets, hundreds of costumes and a live orchestra, gang show delivers the whole family a fun night at the theatre .
hornsby gang show is made up of 120 talented cast plus a massive network of volunteers working 12 months a year in various departments and roles .
many of the leader’s involved in this first show were already busy members of the scouting community and it was quickly decided that “there is more to scouting than gang show”. it is for this reason that the show is only run every two years, although this two years seems to go by so quickly !
became the
gang show
anthem. about the third or fourth rehearsal of the 1936 show we arrived at the first act finale. the boys were seated round the piano, and i told them we would be doing another sea scout number to bring the curtain down .
the hutt valley gang show team run a performing arts camp every two years. the next camp will be held in 2019. more information will be posted closer to the time .
a gang show is a theatrical production produced and performed by members of the scout and girl guiding movements. to learn more about gang shows click here. the hutt valley gang show is performed every two years at the little theatre, lower hutt, wellington. while it is called the “hutt valley” show (because it is performed in lower hutt), hvgs is a production put on collaboratively by the rimutaka, lower hutt, wellington and kapiti coastal zones of scouts new zealand. members of scouts nz and girl guiding nz from throughout the greater wellington region are eligible to be part of the show .
this is a rather unusual tv show. firstly it seems to have been shot on a stage rather than a studio. the opening scene is the tiller girls doing their stuff. then we get the gang, wearing their their stage clothes, i think from
ring out them bells
. all the usual gang stuff. then we get rosalba neri singing then a long sketch with the gang wearing wigs. you just wished that they would have used far more of the gang and less of the other acts. when the gang are on it is great when they are off you fast forward to the next gang appearance. a must for any fans of the crazy gang. i was delighted to be reminded of their few tv performances .
with his commitments ralph was still able to devote time to scouting. in 1932, he first staged what would become the greatest amateur theatrical production of all time – the gang show .
can you write another show for next year ?
i was asked .
canberra gang show is a great night out at the theatre. it' s also an amazing training opportunity for around 150 young people of the canberra region! canberra gang show is produced annually by a team of volunteers from the scouting and guiding communities. in 2017 we celebrated 50 years since the first canberra gang show! ! after first stepping into the spotlight in 1966 with the assistance of melbourne gang show, in 1968 we went it alone and haven' t slowed down since. over our colourful history, we have only performed in 4 different venues; the canberra theatre between 1966 and 1974, the playhouse until 1982, erindale theatre up to 2012, and from 2013 at the tim murray theatre. our 2018 performance season will be staged in the july school holidays .
the revue “the show’s the thing” transferred from the victoria palace to the lyceum, starring gracie fields it packed the theatre until the start of the pantomime in 1929 .
gang show was written and produced for the first time by a rover scout, ralph reader in 1932, in london. ralph produced the show to raise money for a swimming pool. thus began a tradition which is still going strong in many parts of the world today. gang shows are produced all through the united kingdom and europe, in north america, asia, new zealand and australia .
he
gang show
became a truly commonwealth possession - more than that, even, for we have our american friends, and i' ve been proud that the great city of chicago - once the home, indeed, of a very different gang' - regularly gives its own productions of our british shows. there are
gang show
enthusiasts the other side of the world, and not so long ago i
opened
the first - night of a production in new zealand by telephone from my home in hendon .
somewhere in the world a scout
gang show
is being produced every day of the year. since the first
gang
took a bow in 1932, this unique entertainment has throughout the world raised more than five million pounds for the movement. the creator, writer and producer of the
gang show
is ralph reader, c. b. e. , who was born in crewkerne, somerset, england, and who for many years was a leading actor and theatrical producer in new york and london. he sacrificed a brilliant career in the theatre for an ideal and is known throughout the world as a champion of youth. through gale pedrick he tells you here the story of the
gang show
, how it began, how it grew, and how it spread all over the world .
n alexandria i was attached to the royal navy when they brought in the italian fleet. while i was standing on deck one evening a young sailor walked over to me and handed me his
gang show
scarf .
when gang show was started in london by ralph reader in 1932 he and his assistants decided to organise the show as a scout troop. this arrangement was so successful that it has been carried out ever since. the boys who were members of the early gang show troop wanted some kind of identification and it was decided to adopt a distinctive scarf. who actually decided on the scarlet scarf is unknown, but it became a tradition and an identification sign. however, when gang shows started to spring up all over england and other parts of the world, all wearing the scarlet scarf, some form of local identification was needed and london showed the way by embroidering, in gold, the insignia
g. s. london
on the point of the scarf. today each gang has its local identifying badge in gold on the point of the scarf .
all senior cast are required to audition, by auditioning this allows the production team to best slot you into the show .
the 2018 brisbane gang show presents captivating covers, a series of immersive journeys, at the schonell theatre, 6 - 14 july 2018. tickets for this production are now on sale. to book and find out further information click here .
in 1939, following the outbreak of the second world war, ralph was commissioned into the royal air force as an intelligence officer. as a cover for his activities, twelve members of the pre - war gang shows were formed into the first royal air force gang show. the royal air force saw this as a great opportunity for future royal air force gang shows to make perfect cover for ralph’s activities. for his services to the royal air force, ralph was awarded an m. b. e. of the military division in 1943 .
et me start with a story about the red scarf, the scarlet neckerchief with gold lettering on the back which reads, simply ,
g. s .
it may be worn only by those who have taken part in a
gang show
.
applications for senior cast have now closed, please check back early 2019 if you would like to be in the show .
frederick had not heeded bert hammond’s warning - the existing film circuits prevented him from obtaining films. only one picture was ever shown, on the evening of april 13 th 1937. it was a british film called “the gang show”. that evening saw the beginning and the end of the lyceum as a cinema .
the brisbane gang show cast in 2017 was comprised of 151 youth members – this included: 23 cub scouts, 54 scouts, 35 venturer scouts, 27 rover scouts and 12 guides. the 2018 cast is current over 140 youth members who commence rehearsals on 11 february .
agree to promote the show actively to all family members, friends, colleagues and other groups in order to assist with ticket sales .
gang show is a team effort and reliability and punctuality are very important in any team situation – latecomers / absentees can hold up proceedings and waste valuable time. please download the season dates and request / plan any time off so you are available at critical times & for the performances .
hat song more than any other sealed the success of the gang shows, and later i used it as my own personal signature tune. it has been sung in every country of the world where scouting exists and was the theme song in one of the prisoner - of - war camps during the 1939 war. it was sung at the beginning and end of every r. a. f. gang show on every battle front through the war days. it was used as the finale of one of the major episodes of the aldershot tattoo, and played by the massed bands of the brigade of guards .
his is why i am so proud of the gang; this is why i can take the worry and accept the problems; because of this spirit i can somehow keep awake at night and still find time during the day to turn out the material for the next programme. there is no finer example in the world of scouting than the example of the boys and the spirit that flows through every member of our red - scarf gang. that is why i can sing so happily ,
i wouldn' t change for a man with a million, for i' ve got a million blessings more .
and every blessing stands for a boy who is in or has been in the
gang show
.
a reminder to all brisbane gang members that dvd orders close this friday. to order check the newsletter for links and information. # brisgangshow # orderup # relive
not long after the second world war ended, ralph set up his own production company, ralph reader limited, which revived many shows that he had produced prior to the outbreak of war in 1939. he also recommenced producing the london gang show in 1950, and also went on to write more songs and musical plays for the scout association .
o, you see, even in those days the scout
gang show
was spreading its wings. it wasn' t any longer a london experiment which was
taking on
in other cities in britain. it was building up the world - wide status i' m proud to think it now has. <
haven’t booked yet? ? never fear as we have heaps of great seats available at the door and they are only $ 16 for today’s performances only. join the gang as we entertain you in a jam packed 2 1 / 2 hour show! # brisgangshow # brisbane # saturday # theatre # scouts # uq # musical
it was in 1802 that the building housed a collection of waxworks by madame tussaud - the first waxwork show that london had ever seen. they were exhibited to the public here up until 1809
our last show was hvgs 2016
capturing time
, the season for which finished on 24 september 2016. thanks to everyone who made the show the great success that it was: cast, behind the scenes team, funders and supporters, families and friends and our fantastic audiences! your support is much appreciated! we had a fantastic experience .
our next show is hvgs 2018
the lost tune
which will be performed 3 - 8 september 2018, rehearsals are well underway and tickets are now available .
hornsby gang show members audition every year in february. they are local scout and guide members, need to be active members located in the sydney north region and aged 11 - 26yrs. behind the scenes there are over 150 volunteers who help get the show on stage every year. their involvement ranges from hanging banners, to designing programs, fitting costumes, and helping to make and paint sets. these may be friends or family of the cast or other interested scouting and guiding friends. contact us to find out how to get involved
he continuity of the
gang
has been one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. our youngsters have grown up, have married, and then brought their own boys into the show. each year sees a new intake, but as i look round at rehearsals it seems to me that i' m surrounded by the same eager faces which smiled back at me in the first pioneering days and nights .
amateur theatricals was always an interest of baden - powell' s, from school through his army life and then in scouting. in b. p.' s
outlook
he says
amateur theatricals should be a part of every scout' s training
- gang show is a way in which a scout can receive that training .
attend an audition in november of each prior year to the show season involving – singing part of your own chosen song, acting out lines from a sketch provided to you on the day, participating in a short dance routine and answering questions asked by the audition panel. auditions determine roles for each cast member in the following years show and not all applicants who audition may be accepted into the cast for the following year. review the auditions page of this website to help you prepare .
ell, after that show, admiral philpotts, who was then the county commissioner for london, stopped me outside the lift at scout headquarters and told me how much he' d enjoyed the holborn rovers show. then he said ,
reader, we' ve a wonderful camp - site at downe, and we' re very anxious to build a swimming - pool there. can you help us raise the money ?
ne night during rehearsals word was brought to me that the title of the show had to be decided that evening so that posters could be got ready for the initial announcements to the public. we had just broken for coffee. then 1 told one of the boys to call the cast back to continue rehearsals. as they all crowded back into the room i said to the youngster ,
are they all back ?
he looked at me and in a cockney voice said ,
aye, aye, skip; the gang' s all here .
apart from miss terris, the show was stolen by charles lauri - an artiste specialising in animals or “skin” parts. as cinderella’s cat, he virtually replaced the “buttons” character as her best friend and ally, and astonished audiences by clambering around the edge of the dress circle .
the pantomime was followed by the “childrens comic harlequinade”, and the singing of the national anthem: “god save the king” .
y tale really begins on the day i met the holborn rovers, and - almost before i knew it - became one of them. it was for these boys that i wrote all the sketches and songs for a single concert. it was the first time i' d ever attempted such a thing. not that i was ever very happy about that word
concert
. you see, my life had been spent in the professional theatre, first as an actor and producer on new york' s famous broadway, and then in london. indeed, when the plans for the first
gang show
were being laid, i was rehearsing a new show at the palace theatre. no, i was determined, once we were committed, that any entertainment we would put on with the holborn rovers and their friends would be a real
ell, after all kinds of alarms and emergencies. the show went on. at the first night we took curtain - call after curtain - call. within a fortnight we knew that we' d raised enough money to buy that swimming - pool .
agree to participate in the entire season diaries available on this bgs website (full diary here or cub scout here) involving all rehearsals and camps. for over 15’s this includes each tuesday night rehearsal. any more than three absences may result in termination of membership with the gang .
the pantomime ended with the dame’s number, and the royal wedding, as always led into the grand finale .
today we welcomed over 700 scouts and leaders to the @ brisbanegangshow! thanks sss for joining us for another amazing bunch of performances. now for two days off before our next show at 11am on wednesday! 😴 # brisbane # brisgangshow # scouts # sunday
in 1935 the melville brothers celebrated the silver jubilee of their joint management at the lyceum .
i signed it. he still has it today when the show is on; but the signature has been washed out by sea - water. he was twice torpedoed. the signature didn' t remain, but the colour did. it' s nice to know these
symbols
mean so much - perhaps because they stand for so much .
he rest is history, so far as the
gang
is concerned. since those early days i' ve written countless songs and, sketches. the torch was taken up enthusiastically in cities and towns throughout our own country. then the word spread overseas, and those songs (notably our signature - tune ,
riding along on the crest of a wave
) and the sketches and production numbers were being seen and heard in a dozen different countries .
1929 - 1930 puss in boots, clifford seyler was the author, and gwladys stanley (mrs francis laidler) as colin with george jackley (reckless rudolph) and naughton and gold (later of crazy gang fame) were the comedians. andy andrews was dame tickle. naughton & gold played “luke sharp” and “mike haste”. kitty reidy and archie mccaig also appeared .
1935 - 36 the forty thieves starred florrie forde, the music hall star of the “old school” of pantomime, along with three artistes destined to become famous as part of “the crazy gang”, naughton and gold and “monsewer” eddie gray. george jackley once again was the principal comedian. it also featured polly ward (daughter of winifred ward, a favourite edwardian principal boy), claud zola as
neddy
the donkey, albert letine as dame (mrs. cassim) with an adagio act, and the nine strong
liazeed egyptian troupe
. the panto concluded with a short harlequinade featuring claud zola as the clown .
owards the end of the rehearsal i got them round the piano and we went over the song again. this time there seemed to be quite a changed atmosphere among the boys. they sang it with all the gusto they were capable of and at the end of the second refrain they actually applauded themselves. then a voice boomed out from the rear of the drill hall .
during irving’s time here the pantomime was not completely ignored. one production stole the thunder from the drury lane’s pantomime .
i cannot get over my joy at seeing the' gang'. i am not merely thinking of the acting, good though that was, but of the splendid teamwork of the whole lot. having myself, in my time, had the job of organising theatrical performances, i know pretty full well all that this means, so i can claim that it is no empty phrase on my part, when i say' well done'. i would like to add my own very grateful thanks for this added reputation you have gained for the scout movement. it must go on and on
.
in 1852 a miss ellington become one of the first “principal boys” when she played the prince in “ the good woman in the wood ”, this was to mark a significant change in the history of pantomime .
in the 1980’s once again demolition loomed. there was a campaign launched to save the lyceum. the national theatre gave several “platform” performances, playing in the space that had originally been the stalls, but it was to be 57 before the famous stage of the lyceum was to see actors again .
the 1907 pantomime was “ robinson crusoe ”. from this year onwards pantomime became an annual institution at the lyceum until 1939, with the exception of 1917 - 18 when the great war meant the production was cancelled .
when the curtain fell on that last night, the lyceum’s reign as pantomime king was over. the melvilles had produced nearly thirty years of annual pantomime, and now the future of the very building seemed in doubt .
after the run of “cinderella” was over at the lyceum, it transferred to new york .
ernest carpenter the manager died on december 23 rd, just before “aladdin” opened. . a benefit was given for his widow the following year in gratitude for the man responsible for re - establishing the lyceum as a “legitimate” theatre, and laying the foundations of the theatre that would now be run by the melville brothers .
they knew their audiences and what the pantomime was capable of taking before the business began to dwindle. when they reached £30, 000 at the box office they would finish the run .
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ur first rehearsal was held on may 25th, 1932, my birthday. and i may say that one of the happiest thoughts i still have about this period of my life is that a number of my friends of those days - the true pioneers - are still actively concerned with the show, among them fred hurll, now chief executive commissioner of the scout association, jimmy cregeen, who, with his two sons, ken and david, is still a tower of strength, and jack beet, whose middle name is
rover
and whose life has been spent in the 4th harrow .
mostly the pantomimes written by the melvilles were in rhyming couplets, with deliberately dreadful puns inserted .
from this period onwards, the lyceum theatre was to become the foremost pantomime venue in london .
at the box office in addition to the above, tickets can be purchased with cash and eftpos .
over 18’s are required to attend a mandatory over 18’s activity at the beginning of the rehearsal season .
the melvilles were not the only famous management that ran the lyceum. during its theatrical history the theatre was under the control of henry irving, the great actor - manager. in 1878 he ran the theatre, and employed ellen terry as his leading lady. his shakespearean productions meant that the lyceum was constantly sold out, and several times he would tour not just this country, but america. his knighthood in1895 was the first ever given to an actor .
in 1996, magnificently restored to its former glory, the lyceum theatre opened its doors once again to “jesus christ superstar”. the royal national theatre' s oklahoma with hugh jackman and disney’s “the lion king” followed, and is still packing the theatre to the present day .
the present theatre stands on the site of its predecessors. in 1772 a building opened as an exhibition rooms and concert hall. in 1794 it was converted into the lyceum theatre, only to have several other names during the early part of the 19 th century. it was the theatre royal lyceum, (1809), the theatre royal, english opera (1815) and after major rebuilding, the theatre royal and opera house. (1816). the architect was samuel beazley .
in 1957, he was appointed a commander of the most excellent order of the british empire, c. b. e. , by her majesty the queen .
an edited extract from
the scout' s pathfinder annual
originally publish in 1969 by the scout association .
from 1817 the lyceum was the first theatre to be lit by gas. this novel innovation led to lectures and demonstrations being held in the theatre illustrating the (relatively) clean. and attractive mode of lighting. unfortunately the building was burnt down in 1830, and rebuilt, it was called the royal lyceum and opera house (1834 )
once the home of some of london’s finest pantomimes, the lyceum theatre has been many things in its long history .
nowadays the outside of the lyceum theatre is thronging with coaches dropping off hundreds of excited children (and excited parents) who go there to see disney’s “the lion king”. at the end of the performance the streets are again thronging with bicycle rickshaws, hoping to carry said children and parents home. it is vibrant and alive. this has not always been the case. up until fairly recently it was closed and boarded up, its stage invisible, and its stalls removed awaiting the bulldozers to knock it to the ground .
fortunately disaster was averted on the closing night of “cinderella”, and they “became friends again”. the lyceum remained open .
the pantomime had a famous guest in the audience: it was the young princess elizabeth’s first pantomime. she visited it on january 26 th 1934, and joined in singing “we all went up the mountain”, and at one point leant over the box to ask george jackley for an encore .
one of the scenic specialities was known as the collapsing house of cards. they were to use this set many times over the years - especially in their productions of “queen of hearts”. the audiences would wait for the palace of cards to come tumbling down amid great cheers and gasps! this scenery was used in the 1927, 1933 & 1938 productions .
group of young territorials was standing at the back. they had been listening and watching the rehearsal. so again we let it rip, with the terriers joining in. they were the first
outsiders
who ever sang
we' re riding along on the crest of a wave .
“first the story, then the ballet, and finally the comedians after, it must be said, a very long interval in which teas, orangeade and ice - creams were sold - all melville’s own brand - to the overheated audience” .
in 1945 the theatre re - opened as a dance hall, much needed in wartime for morale both of the troops on leave, and for londoners living nightly with the blitz .
the giant was named “gobbywobbly”, and the dame was “dame dimple”. jack returned from market to find his mother waiting :
this pantomime, for the first time in a long while did not have either george jackley or naughton and gold in the company. this was noted by “the observer” newspaper which wrote :
ithin the next month i started on the next production. each year the
house full
boards have gone up, and sometimes the demand for seats has been so terrific that as much as a hundred thousand pounds has had to be returned .
“ the long first half of the entertainment exhausts itself, after the lyceum manner, in an ecstacy of scenic display, but at the beginning of the second half, when we have resigned ourselves to the funny men, we are startled (and enchanted) by the fall of the house of cards, into a dark and turbulent ocean. here then, safely caught, is one essential of pantomime - splendour, and for another, which is humour, we have not far to look .
on february 28 th 1937 walter melville died at the age of 62. the long partnership with his brother frederick was over .
frederick melville made an error of judgement when he instructed bert hammond, his manager to equip the theatre as a cinema. a rebuilding of parts of the interior was underway to install the projectors, and the auditorium floor had to be lowered, involving reseating and recarpeting. the cost ran to around £12, 000 .
1937 - 38 beauty and the beast the panto starred clarkson rose and johnny kavanagh as beauty’s “sisters”, with albert burdon as “pickles” the page. the o’gorman brothers appeared alongside anne leslie as beauty and jill esmond as prince, with betty bucknell as principal dancer .
“ it is open to doubt if the london stage has ever seen such a christmas play of the kind conceived and executed in such faultless taste. it is hardly fair to call this dainty and charming “cinderella” a pantomime, for the modern pantomime is associated in the public mind with rough and tumble fun, wild dances and music hall songs. nothing of the kind is found at the lyceum
this is mr george jackley, to shake the roof with the blast of his witticisms, to whistle his way cleverly and amusingly through a game of cards and (the crowning glory of his performance and perhaps the true climax of the pantomime) to make us all sing an extremely silly but extremely cheerful song about going up - up - up and down - down - down the mountain” .
in 1924 the pantomime was “ the forty thieves ”, written by leedham bantock with music by guy jones. george jackley again appeared, along with the hengler brothers. it ran for 122 performances .
in 1844 on easter monday the lyceum presented a burlesque - “ open seasame, or a night with the forty thieves”. around the same time the management - mr. and mrs. keeley presented a novel attraction to london: the famous midget general tom thumb in “ hop o’my thumb, or the ogre and his seven league boots ”. so popular was “the general” that he was requested by queen victoria to appear before her majesty at windsor to repeat his performance .
1928 - 29 beauty and the beast - this time written and produced by the melville brothers. the cast included dick tubb, dorothy seacombe and jean colin. . (jean colin had made her debut as a dancer in “cinderella” at the grand, brighton in 1905) .
agree to supply the ‘ personal wardrobe items ’ per the list distributed each year as part of the season (eg. black shoes, white shoes, joggers, personal support and other clothing items) .
in 1866 the pantomime was produced by e t. smith, then lessee of the lyceum. he commissioned none other than w. s. gilbert, who was yet to have written the comic operettas which made him famous. it bore the comprehensive title of harlequin cock robin and jenny wren; or, fortunatus and the waters of life, the three bears, the three gifts, the three wishes and the little man who woo' d a little maid, and it was produced at christmas when gilbert was 31 years of age. he received £60 for it, and it was not a success. it starred the vokes family, who were together for the first time, it pre - dated their seasons at drury lane which did not start until 1869. see further article on this pantomime, including an extract from the script .
the death of frederick melville left the lyceum pantomime in the hands of manager bert hammond, with frederick’s younger brother andrew melville as acting manager. this enabled bert to make a few much needed improvements and modernisations .
he lads soon picked up the song, but without any special enthusiasm. they sang it again and again, and although i waited patiently for someone to express an opinion none was forthcoming. so we turned to the other songs and soon were busy on the floor with the production .
“my opinion is that the part of a principal boy should always be played by a girl. what can be more charming than a dainty and pretty girl playing the part of a boy? the introduction of male persons to play principal boys is not incentive to the best traditions of pantomime”
in 1939 the lyceum was finally closed, and was due to be demolished in preparation for a major road widening scheme. the construction of large “roundabouts” and transport changes threatened the building and surrounding area. that scheme (fortunately) never happened. the outbreak of war prevented any plans .
we’re 50% sold out and the clock is ticking, not long left to grab those early bird tickets. 🎫⏱ the scores are com… urltoken
applications to join the cast in 2018 are closed. the process for 2019 applications will open in july 2018 and close on 31 october 2018 .
to enhance planche’s scripts, the designer william beverley created some spectacular scenic effects in the 1840’s. for planche’s “island of jewels” in 1849 he created what would be the very first “transformation scene”, which caused a sensation .
during this period, between 1914 and 1919 one of the pantomime dancers was ninette de valois - later dame ninette, she founded the royal ballet .
1933 - 34 saw the queen of hearts return to the lyceum. the cast included george jackley, (knave of hearts) dick tubb, (as queen of hearts), naughton and gold, dick henderson, molly vyvyan, the o' gorman brothers, nancy fraser and eve benson .
…. . none of the new songs seemed to have quite the authentic popular ring, but how grandly miss florrie forde “put across” that one about the moo - cow and how diffidently but how inexorably mr. george jackley compelled all the children to howl with him for his lost cat. ”
“the melville pantomimes were exuberant, colourful - lots of reds and yellows in the sets, tuneful and above all fun” (says brian gorman). james agate (the critic) said they were a “well tried formula” .
this pantomime also stole the thunder of the opposition. over at drury lane dan leno, herbert campbell, little tich and ada blanche were appearing in “robinson crusoe”. it was augustus harris’s greatest failure. ellaline terris proved to be the hit of the season, and drury lane lost £30, 000 .
the apartment complex is changing. the tenants are at their own crossroads and are not sure how things will pan out. whether they’re moving out for the first time or attending their friend’s wedding, having to give up their toys or quitting their job, it’s clear life will never be the same .
an early version of “ cinderella ” was performed here in 1809, as was a version of jack and the beanstalk in 1809 (?) shortly after the publication of the history of jack and the beanstalk. a few years later the lyceum had one brief glimpse of the legendary joseph grimaldi - he never performed in a pantomime there, but in 1811 he appeared in a short scene from “ mother goose ” singing his song “tippety wichet” at a benefit .
1931 - 32 cinderella kitty reidy played prince charming, and constance carpenter the title role. the comics as before were george jackley and naughton and gold .
madam vestris appeared her as an early principal boy in a production written by planche. the author j. r. planche was responsible for presenting some beautiful lyceum pantomimes in the 1840’s onwards. he was praised in the press because :
please ignore the crime stoppers references on the application site – our pd works for them and we are using their secure systems for our applications. thank you .
the melvilles took pantomime back to its story - telling roots, but invested their productions with excellent scenery and a great deal of “slap - stick”. the comedians they employed - especially naughton & gold, specialised in plate - smashing, messy cake - making in the palace kitchens, and very messy “papering the parlour” scenes .
in 1902 the theatre closed, and, apart from the portico and rear walls, was rebuilt as a music hall in 1904. this almost total demolition was due to new and improved fire and safety regulations. the architect was bertie crewe .
“…the first part of this pantomime happens largely under the aegis of miss florrie forde. . this great favourite, of an older day, still holds us in the hollow of her hand, and it is good to hear the old songs reminiscently sung, even when the singer, discarding boyish livery, presents them from a matronly ambuscade of puce and gold draperies surmounted by a confection of obsequious and heliotrope plumes…
free from the confines of her traditional upbringing, summer finds herself swept away on the adventure of a lifetime in a steampunk realm of mechanical wonder and endless possibility .
if over 18 or turning 18 during the season – obtain a positive notice for working with children (blue card), which must remain current throughout the season .
“not to be outdone, the following year was princess margaret’s first pantomime - her first visit to a theatre in fact. she was entranced. standing on a footstool she was just able to see over the front of the box, and did not take her eyes of the box for a second. she, like her sister, joined in singing the chorus of “two little tom tits were tweeting” when encouraged by george jackley”
you can contact our box office on the night for an indication on ticket availability .
in 1971, ralph was initiated and made a member of the grand order of water rats, an occasion he rated as one of the proudest events of his life .
y es, i' m a lucky man, for i' ve got the biggest family in the world, even though all my
sons
have different fathers .
wrote in the programme: “the costumes and accessories have been specially designed by wilhelm (to whom mr. oscar barrett is pleased to acknowledge his indebtedness for many valuable suggestions” .
in its time it has been a chapel, a circus, a concert room, a waxworks exhibition, a cinema (briefly) and a dance hall, pop venue, television studio as well as a theatre. however, during the period that it was run by the melville brothers - from 1909 to 1938 it was the home of some of the west end’s premier pantomimes - a rival to the crown held by drury lane at times .
in 1907 it returned to theatre use, and remained the lyceum theatre up until 1939 .
as might be imagined miss ellaline terris makes an absolutely ideal cinderella. everything stagey and theatrical vanishes from the mind. the new cinderella is cut clean out of a lovely picture book”
after its use as a ballroom waned, the lyceum became a “pop” venue where live bands would perform to packed houses. the building was used to broadcast television programmes as well .
agree to participate in additional patrol or section activities coordinated by the leadership or program team .
to apply for senior cast, you must be a registered member of the scout or girl guide movement and be 11 years of age or older by the 31st of may, 2018 .
in his book “ the lyceum ” (published 1952) a. e. wilson recalls :
brian gorman tells in “laughter in the roar” how the melvilles ran their pantomime empire. certainly the brothers had an eye for a bargain. in addition to having their scenery made at their own store in holborn, they would recycle and snap up any scenery they thought might be useful .
apply online each year to be part of the cast which includes providing personal and health information .
please note that it is not currently possible to register for a log in to the website .
william henry ralph reader was born on 25th may, 1903, in somerset, england. orphaned before he turned nine, he was then brought up by his aunts and uncles. he joined the scouting movement in 1914, and around the same time watched theatrical productions for the first time .
inspired by the absent master away in america, mr. oscar barrett has out of the legend of cinderella extracted a fairy opera beautiful to behold and delightful to listen to. all london will in a few days be talking of mr. hawes craven’s picture of the autumnal woods where, around the sleeping cinderella, a ballet is danced, all being clad in what ladies call “liberty tints” .
for over sixty years, we' ve been providing young people with opportunities to develop confidence, resilience and teamwork through the performing arts... and having plenty of fun along the way !
“ his fantasies sought to restore the garbled stage versions of fairy tales to their original form. . they resembled pantomime without the harlequinades - clever parodies, puns and witty turns of phrase. . ”
george jackley started on the stage assisting his father, nathan jackley of
the jackley wonders
a professional acrobat who originated the
jackley drop
a celebrated feat of gymnastics and came to the uk working with henglers circus. george formed a partnership with le sine before commencing his solo career. we are very grateful to lisa dawes (george jackley' s grand - daughter) for this information .
the 1923 - 24 pantomime was “ jack and the beanstalk ”, with sybil arundale again as principal boy, and also featured george jackley, dick henderson (father of dickie henderson) and bertram dench .
frederick melville was left to run the lyceum alone, in a time of changing tastes. it was no longer possible to fill the theatre with a policy of melodrama and pantomime. despite hosting many revues and musicals that had transferred there, it required something exceptional to suit the popular class of audience it attracted.
the gang show is a 1937 british musical film about a boy scout troop who stage a variety show to raise funds , when the lease of their meeting place expires . the film was a vehicle for material from ralph reader 's gang shows that had been successful on the stage in london 's west end since 1932 ; the songs included the gang show anthem ; " crest of a wave " . shot at pinewood studios , the film premiered at the lyceum theatre , london on 13 april 1937 , the only occasion that the theatre was used as a cinema . it was released in new york in december 1938 under the shortened title the gang . 
the gang show is a 1937 british musical film about a boy scout troop who stage a variety show to raise funds, when the lease of their meeting place expires. the film was a vehicle for material from ralph reader's gang shows that had been successful on the stage in london's west end since 1932; the songs included the gang show anthem; " crest of a wave ". shot at pinewood studios, the film premiered at the lyceum theatre, london on 13 april 1937, the only occasion that the theatre was used as a cinema. it was released in new york in december 1938 under the shortened title the gang.
the gang show is a 1937 british musical film about a boy scout troop who stage a variety show to raise funds, when the lease of their meeting place expires. the film was a vehicle for material from ralph reader's gang shows that had been successful on the stage in london's west end since 1932; the songs included the gang show anthem; " crest of a wave ". shot at pinewood studios, the film premiered at the lyceum theatre, london on 13 april 1937, the only occasion that the theatre was used as a cinema. it was released in new york in december 1938 under the shortened title the gang.