SCOUTABOUT (1956)
This is our first District Show. It is also the first time that SCOUTABOUT has appeared on the stage of the Royalty Theatre. In 1953 the 8th and 13th Chester Groups combined to produce "Scoutabout" in the Cathedral Refectory, a venture that was repeated in 1954. Last year they were joined by the 1st Upton Group, and the encouragement and support we received from the public on that occasion left us no alternative - it just had to be the Royalty Theatre for 1956! 124 Cubs, Scouts and Scouters of 12 local Groups are taking part.
So here, for your entertainment and enjoyment, is SCOUTABOUT, modelled on the wonderful Gang Show produced year by year in London by Ralph Reader. We hope that Chester folk will give us the same support as that accorded to other provincial shows.
We should like to express our warm appreciation of the co-operation we have received from the Directors, Manager and Staff of the Royalty Theatre. This is the third show in which Billy Brickland has been Musical Director; he and his Orchestra are now part of Scoutabout - and the Gang think they are pretty good! The amount of work done behind the scenes is just terrific and we are very grateful to all those ladies and gentlemen who have found time to give us a hand in so many ways.
The Gang would like to wish you all a truly peaceful Christmas and a really happy and prosperous New Year.
The cast of "Scoutabout" are delighted to welcome to the performance on Tuesday evening Lord Leverhulme (Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and President of the Chester (West) County Association of Boy Scouts) and Lady Leverhulme, the Mayor and Mayoress of Chester (Mr. and Mrs. F. Hart-Davies) the Sheriff of Chester (The Rev. E. J. Lawson) and Mrs. Lawson, the Chairman of the Cheshire County Council (Alderman J. Wesley Emberton) and Mrs. Emberton, Sir Geoffrey Bates, Sir John Nicholson, Bart. (Chairman of the Cheshire West County Association) and Lady Nicholson, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Carswell, Lt. Col. and Mrs. T. S. Bigland (County Commissioner for Boy Scouts), and hope that they will enjoy the Show to the full. They also extend a welcome to Mr. Leo Maris (Field Commissioner) who is attending the Thursday evening performance.
We wish to acknowledge
The Directors, General Manager and Staff of the Royalty Theatre for splendid co-operation and help ; Ralph Reader for most of the programme material ; Rehearsal facilities - the Governors of the College School ; Miss Hilda Catherall, The Music Shop, St. Werburgh Street, Chester, for Advance Bookings ; Signs - Harold Faulkner ; Hired West End Costumes - Peter Dunlop Ltd. ; Wigs by Bert, London ; Photography - Bill Rowlands ; Make-up - The Bache Pharmacy, Upton-by-Chester ; Invaluable help - J. Shaw, Esq., A.D.C.C., West Cheshire ; the S.W. Cheshire and Stoke-on-Trent Boy Scouts' Associations ; Press - "Chester Chronicle," "Cheshire Observer," "The Ellesmere Port Pioneer," l.H.Q. of the Boy Scouts' Association for help and guidance in many ways ; Messrs. T. G. Burrells Ltd. and Messrs. George Taylor (Chester) Ltd., for window displays ; the Chester Theatre Club, N. G. Cottam, Esq. (Cheshire Rural Community Council); Mrs. E. M. Dickson, Commissioner for Guides ; Messrs. Tristrams Ltd., for garage facilities ; George Thompson for the cover design ; also our Advertisers and other generous supporters ; and YOU the Patrons for your excellent support, either in parties or individually.