75 young thespians amaze in gang show
I was invited to attend the final dress rehearsal of the Gang Show in the Mayfair Theatre last Sunday.
I always enjoy the bi-annual Gang Show productions which give large casts of enthusiastic young people the opportunity to entertain with singing and acting, developing confidence in performing and self-esteem that astounds most parents and friends in the audience.
This year with a performing cast of 75 girl guides and scouts from Otago and Southland, co-producers Noel and Sue Walker have crafted a musical comedy show entitled An Amazing Race.
The show is based loosely on the popular TV series of the same title, with songs, skits and some corny humour from countries visited.
Musical director Ivan Graham maintained a well-paced show accompanied by a ten-piece ensemble (musical arrangements Linda Hodge, chorus manager Christine Veltman), visiting countries encountered by the teams racing to find clues and be first home.
Various choreography to match was devised by Mhairi Rowbotton and Olivia Larkins.
Throughout the journey two TV announcers, one intentionally bungling and hopeless, advanced the plot for listeners at home.
Outstanding projected backdrops (Ben Caton), props and colourful costumes (Dawn New and Kath Morgan) highlighted every change of scene.
Maintaining fast orderly backstage costume-changing discipline must have been frantic at times for stage manager Stephen Manning, properties Emma Rooney, makeup Catie Hodge and 27 dressers.
The teams began their adventures backed by familiar Octagon backdrops. One team was upgraded for their first flight with very dubious cockpit dialogue (playing I Spy) and antics.
Arrival in France gave opportunity for Paris nightlife scenes with dancers, before progressing to Norway, the Caribbean with pirates, Egypt with pyramid antics, London, America, Australia, then back to a flag-bedecked Octagon to celebrate the winners, who give the $100,000 prize money to fund the new Dunedin hospital.
The jubilant traditional entire cast singing Riding Along on the Crest of a Wave always brings a lump to the throat. An Amazing Race opens tonight and continues until Saturday.
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Otago Daily Times
30-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
75 young thespians amaze in gang show
Riley Verhoef, 16, of Dunedin, and Lily Newcombe, 16, of Dunback — and the cast of the Otago Gang Show 2025 -- rehearse at the Mayfair Theatre ahead of this week's opening night. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH I was invited to attend the final dress rehearsal of the Gang Show in the Mayfair Theatre last Sunday. I always enjoy the bi-annual Gang Show productions which give large casts of enthusiastic young people the opportunity to entertain with singing and acting, developing confidence in performing and self-esteem that astounds most parents and friends in the audience. This year with a performing cast of 75 girl guides and scouts from Otago and Southland, co-producers Noel and Sue Walker have crafted a musical comedy show entitled An Amazing Race. The show is based loosely on the popular TV series of the same title, with songs, skits and some corny humour from countries visited. Musical director Ivan Graham maintained a well-paced show accompanied by a ten-piece ensemble (musical arrangements Linda Hodge, chorus manager Christine Veltman), visiting countries encountered by the teams racing to find clues and be first home. Various choreography to match was devised by Mhairi Rowbotton and Olivia Larkins. Throughout the journey two TV announcers, one intentionally bungling and hopeless, advanced the plot for listeners at home. Outstanding projected backdrops (Ben Caton), props and colourful costumes (Dawn New and Kath Morgan) highlighted every change of scene. Maintaining fast orderly backstage costume-changing discipline must have been frantic at times for stage manager Stephen Manning, properties Emma Rooney, makeup Catie Hodge and 27 dressers. The teams began their adventures backed by familiar Octagon backdrops. One team was upgraded for their first flight with very dubious cockpit dialogue (playing I Spy) and antics. Arrival in France gave opportunity for Paris nightlife scenes with dancers, before progressing to Norway, the Caribbean with pirates, Egypt with pyramid antics, London, America, Australia, then back to a flag-bedecked Octagon to celebrate the winners, who give the $100,000 prize money to fund the new Dunedin hospital. The jubilant traditional entire cast singing Riding Along on the Crest of a Wave always brings a lump to the throat. An Amazing Race opens tonight and continues until Saturday.
Otago Daily Times
26-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Gang show to star more than 70 scouts and guides
Riley Verhoef, of Dunedin, and Lily Newcombe, of Dunback, with the cast of the Otago Gang Show 2025, rehearse at the Mayfair Theatre ahead of next week's opening night. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH At just 16 years of age, Lily Newcombe is already an old hand at gang shows. When the curtain rises on this year's show at Dunedin's Mayfair Theatre on Tuesday, the Dunback teenager will star in her fourth musical comedy. She started at the age of 8. But every show was fresh, Lily said. ''It's so different every time — it's always original and it's just really cool seeing what [co-directors Sue and Noel Walker] come up with and then it being turned into this amazing performance by all the scouts and guides.'' This year's performance, loosely based on the long-running TV reality show The Amazing Race, features a cast of more than 70 scouts and guides aged 10 to 23. Riley Verhoef, 16, of Dunedin — another star in the show — said it was the mix of the performers that elevated the show's energy. ''I like the diversity of the people in it,'' he said. The Walkers are directing their 23rd gang show since their first ''very small'' show in Opoho in 1980. Rehearsals for this year's production began in March, Mrs Walker said. Because the couple had now relocated to Te Anau, they took four weeks' leave for the show's final push, including this week's dress rehearsals. It was a passion project for them, Mrs Walker said. And there were many passionate people who brought every show together. ''Everyone's very keen,'' Mrs Walker said. ''A lot of people come back to help year after year.'' — APL
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- NZ Herald
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