Cumberland Gang Show is one of the largest Gang Shows in Australia!
The Production Team start work a few weeks after the end of the previous season and spend about six months creating the technical script. This means meeting on a weekly basis, writing brand new items as well as painstakingly selecting the best from the huge collection of over 2,500 items from the Gang Show database.
It also means completely producing each item, specifying the sets and costumes, defining the special requirements in each department, working out all the movements and dance routines and finally teaching it to everyone in the cast during rehearsals. After the script is complete, we have Auditions.
Auditions are huge! We spend two days auditioning between 160 and 220 young Scouts and Guides. We then run the Cast Selections computer program which picks the top 144 for the cast and randomly assigns the juniors to the two casts. The next task is Casting. This is another huge job, made easier by a sophisticated Casting program which organises everyone according to height, singing ability, dancing ability, acting ability and so on, making sure each person is fitted into one of the over 1,500 parts in the show.
The Production Team make sure that the main roles are shared out fairly, that no-one is in two consecutive items (where they wouldn't have a chance to change costumes), and that everyone is occupied in each rehearsal bracket. After that comes rehearsals!
2024 Production Team
Producer/Director - Dr Rob Lang
Production Director - Tristan Hornstra
Associate Production Director - Linda Apthorpe
Musical Director - David Lang
Choreographer - Rachel Hornstra
Assistant Production Directors - Kerrin Alamango, Adele Lockman, Katherine Sharoff & Naomi Azzopardi
Senior Item Director - Lachlan Davies
Item Directors - Bec Shaw, Jacob Selwood, Toby Stone, Renae Swinkels, Jazzmyn Alamango, TJ Furness & Emma Katen
Production Assistants - Nicola Webb & Owen Simpson
Production Advisors - Meagan Thompson & Matt Thompson
To contact our Production Team, email Tristan Hornstra, our Production Director: tristan@gangshow.asn.au
