An amateur film produced by the Billingham and District Cine Club, with the assistance of Maurice Brunton, of the Middlesbrough Boy Scout Association Gang Show taking place in the Middlesbrough Little Theatre in April 1966. The film featuring young boys and men in various costumes performing a revue or variety show of song, dance, and comedy routines. The film is inter-cut with backstage footage of costume changes and makeup being applied. A large sign hanging from the wall of...

An amateur film produced by the Billingham and District Cine Club, with the assistance of Maurice Brunton, of the Middlesbrough Boy Scout Association Gang Show taking place in the Middlesbrough Little Theatre in April 1966. The film featuring young boys and men in various costumes performing a revue or variety show of song, dance, and comedy routines. The film is inter-cut with backstage footage of costume changes and makeup being applied. A large sign hanging from the wall of Middlesbrough’s Little Theatre that reads ‘Middlesbrough Boy Scouts present The Gang Show Mon to Sat Apr 18-23'. Title: Middlesbrough Boy Scouts Association A car is parked outside the Little Theatre and three people go inside. Title: Presents More people arrive and go inside. Title: Some Numbers From More people head into the theatre. Title: The Gang Show A Scout stands outside beside the car as another group walks into the theatre. Credit: Music & Lyrics by Ralph Reader Credit: Stage director F. Strerett Credit: Show produced by Irwin Greenwood Inside the foyer of the theatre, the audience mingles and chat before heading to their seats. Backstage makeup is applied to one of the performers, a group of boys in costume chat. On stage the opening prologue is being sung and danced by boys dressed in white with red neckties. A line of younger boys sits along the front of the stage, behind them older boys race and dance past. The audience watch the performance happily. Backstage a man puts powder onto a boy's face while on stage the prologue comes to an end and the curtains close. A young man in a dress and makeup with feather plume in his ear poses for those standing beside him. On stage seven young men in red and white showgirl dresses perform a dance routine kicking their legs high into the air. Four boys backstage pose for the camera. Title: “We're only young once. Another song and dance routine with three older boys kneeling and singing while behind them younger boys dance. They all sit on the stage moving or waving their hands at the same time. Backstage a woman in a red necktie sews someone’s cufflinks. Title: “All dressed up". A young boy performs a solo dance routine, around him other boys wearing the same costume of a white shirt, black tie, and trousers with a strip down the legs, stand watching. He is joined by some of the other boys who accompany his routine. It comes to an end and the audience applauds. Title: “Merry month of May". A group of older boys, some dressed as women, march onto the stage wearing hiking gear and perform another song and dance routine in front of a tent built on the stage. They march off and a troop of Scouts march on standing around a flagpole that is now part of the set. Other groups march onto the stage including brownies and girl guides, they all stand behind the Scouts. Two women backstage sort through costumes for a group of waiting boys Title: “Sky high boys". Sitting on tiered steps a large number of young boys sing. They are all wearing blue jackets, shorts and jerk caps. Five older boys in white overalls accompany them. The audience smiles as the performance ends and the curtains close. Title: “I see red.” On stage the boys dressed as Native Americans and holding cardboard tomahawks sit in front of a set featuring a totem pole. Another boy in decorative costume is carried onto the stage where he performs a dance routine. Other boys also dressed in colourful costumes accompany him. Backstage a woman applies makeup to a boy's face. Title: “Hong Kong blues. Boys of various ages dressed as Chinese Asians in silk gowns and conical hats come onto the stage to perform another song and dance routine. A second group of boys in sailor suits come on and dance. They all dance and sing together filling the stage. Backstage a young man quickly changes costumes while on stage the routine ends and the curtains close. Title: “Drum crazy.” On the darkened stage a boy in a colourful waistcoat and bowler hat dances on an oil drum. He is helped down by his companions wearing the same costume and carrying sticks and they all perform a musical number in front of the house curtains. Backstage a woman helps a man to remove his bra. Title: “Free and frippence ha'penny. Six older boys perform a song in front of the house curtains. Each is wearing different coloured outfits, but are of the same style featuring a peaked hat, stripped shirts, a waistcoat and trousers. They march around the stage, their thumbs in their waistcoats. In their uniforms the whole troop sit on tiered steps singing and moving their arms and hands to the music. Backstage a man in a bra takes of his shirt with a smile. Back on stage the routine comes to an end as the curtains closes and the audience applaud. With the show over people begin to leave their seats and exit the theatre. Backstage two boys begin to remove their makeup in front of a mirror. End credit: The camera crew were:- End credit: Harry Coltman Pat White End credit: Laurence Collier Ken Lynam End credit: Jim Crombie Tommy Johnson End credit: Sound recorder Ron Hall End credit: Lights Stan Allott. Titles by “Lascol” End credit: Film editing & cine club/Scouts liaison by M.G. Brunton End credit: Film director Al Wales and production by End credit: Billingham & District Cine Club A final view of the Little Theatre End title: The end