Marple Gang Show

The 2006 Gang Show The Gang Show "Three Cheers" is a fixed feature in the Marple Calendar (mid-end March). It brings together the talents of the Scouts and Guides within the eight senior Marple Units who are supported by a large team behind the scenes. 2008 will be its 44th Year.

The 11-19 year olds (+ a number of their leaders) rehearse intensely over a 12 week period to bring this professional show to a wide audience at The Carver Theatre. This 160 Seat venue is situated on Church Lane in Marple; the 10 performances are usually a sell out.

The 2006 Gang Show The first Marple Gang Show was in 1965 when Scouters and Guiders were asked to put on an entertainment for Marple Senior Citizens at the Parish Hall (now demolished) on Chadwick Street. After this performance the show was taken to The Carver Theatre for the benefit of friends and family. Since then, this gem of a venue has hosted the show on an annual basis.

The show consists of musical items interspersed with sketches. Traditionally, it features a large cast of around 85 members. The backdrops & sets especially created & painted by members of the team. All in all around 2,000 different items of costume are sourced each year along with many unusual props - an organisational feat in itself!

The 2006 Gang Show Over the years, many Marple families have been involved with the show; cast members have been known to follow in their parents (or even grandparents) footsteps as a part of the Gang.

The reputation of the show stretches far and wide. Other Gang Show casts travel many miles to see the show which is the only Gang Show in the entire country that is produced by a Local Group (as opposed to District or County) that has been awarded the coveted "Red Necker".

The 2006 Gang Show This National Scout Award is presented only to those Gang Shows of quality and structure similar to those first produced in professional London theatres by the late Sir Ralph Reader from 1932. The shows have been reassessed regularly. In 2008, the Marple cast will proudly display the Red Necker for the 30th consecutive year.

Since 2004, the cast has selected a different local charity to benefit from a retiring collection. In 2007, Ł565.35 was collected for Pendlebury Children's Hospital and an additional Ł81.32 was collected on first Friday night performance for Red Nose Day.

Summary of Beneficiaries (Retiring Collection):

2004	Rainbow Family Trust in support of Francis House Children's Hospice Ł560
2005	Aimee Drew Trust Ł480
2006	Treehouse Children's Unit at Stepping Hill Hospital Ł444 + Kinder Mountain Rescue based in Hayfield Ł233.
2007	Pendlebury Children's Hospital Ł565.35 + Red Nose Day Ł81.32

All in all, the Marple Gang Show is a well established and celebrated Marple Institution, to quote a member of last year's audience: "By the end of the show you really feel as if you are 'Riding along on the Crest of a Wave'!"