The History of Our Gang

Congleton Gang Show started in 1972 as part of the town’s charter year 700th anniversary celebrations. 2024 will be the 26th show since the original show in 1972.

The second OUR GANG was held in 1975 and the show has continued every two years since then with casts of over 100 each time. Many of the performers have their first taste of appearing on a public stage with OUR GANG. Since 1972 over 2000 new faces have taken part in a Congleton Gang Show

Congleton Gang Show has always been a joint event bringing together members of both Scout groups and Guiding units from all over Congleton. In 1979 the show was assessed by the Scout Association for the first time and was awarded the coveted Gang Show red scarf. This emblem of Gang Shows everywhere demonstrates that the standards of the show have been judged worthy to be called a “Gang Show”.

Cast numbers vary, but are always between 100 and 150 each time. Each show needs around 3000 costumes and over a thousand different songs have been performed over the years.

The first shows were held in Congleton Town Hall. In 1985 OUR GANG moved to the new Daneside Community Theatre. The cast of Our Gang had the privilege in the previous year to be the first group of artists to appear on the theatre’s opening night when all the town’s theatre groups and musical societies presented the opening gala show.

Since then OUR GANG has staged its biennial productions at Daneside Theatre with the continued support and co-operation from the Theatre’s Trust to meet the special requirements needed for a Gang Show’s unique concept.

Each time Our Gang is on stage there are 7 performances and about 2000 people enjoy the show in the audience – that’s nearly 50,000 people who have seen Our Gang in the last fifty years!