Scouting For Noise, a five piece rock band, will be accompanying more than 92 Scouts and Guides in this year’s gang show.

A Million Dreams is the culmination of 16 weeks work from the cast, ranging in age from eight to adults, who have knuckled down to create set pieces of song, dance and comedy, including a tribute to the soldiers of the First World War, a jolly piece set in a sweet shop and a Christmas extravaganza.

Scouting today has come a long way from the Baden Powell camp, set up on Brownsea Island to encourage youngsters to learn the skills that the soldier had encountered during the Second Boer War, but its core message remains. The movement has become even more popular with the young people of today.

Andrew Munday from the Swindon Gang Show said: “The main challenge this year was dealing with the increase of popularity in the cast. We have seen a 37 per cent increase in cast numbers since the 2017 show, which is great, but also a lot more work to co-ordinate and teach.

“Part of scouting is enabling the young people to learn skills for life, the show helps them learn body confidence, voice projection and working as a team all within a fast-paced environment.’’

The Scouts and Guides, under the guiding hand of Ian Selwood, the producer, who took part in the gang show as a cub in the 1980s, have learned 46 songs, from shows such as The Greatest Showman, Moana and Pitch Perfect, dance numbers including tap and contemporary styles and have pulled together five comedy sketches.

Andrew said: “We have also encouraged some of the 16-18 year old cast to compose and teach some of the movement within the show.’’

Many of the Scouts are eager to take part each year and some like Sydney Miller, 15, of Woodhall Park come back again and again. Now in his fourth year of treading the boards he says it is an amazing experience.

“I’ve met some really amazing friends through it,’’ said Sydney.

The youngsters come from Scout troops across Swindon and North Wiltshire and the gang show offers everyone the chance to perform on the Wyvern stage.

Charlotte Hooker, 13, from Rodbourne Cheney said: “It’s about having the opportunity to perform on the big stage, because you don’t really get that now if you’re not in a performing arts academy.’’

The gang show runs from tonight until December 1 at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon at 7.30pm with a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday. Tickets are £13 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison