ARTICLE ARTICLE WARDROBE, LIGHTS, MAKE-UP! NOTWHATYOUTHINKOFFORSCOUTSANDGIRLGUIDES!STEPBEHINDTHE SCENESOFTHECUMBERLANDGANGSHOWANDONEFAMILY’S MULTI-GENERATIONALCONNECTION Every winter school holidays more than 180 Scouts and Girl Guides perform in a live, fast-moving, musical comedy theatre show which includes live music from a 20-piece orchestra. One of the biggest Gang Shows in Australia, Cumberland Gang Show has been performing at Riverside since the doors first opened in 1988. Apart from those on stage there are also vast numbers of volunteers behind the scenes. The 2017 show called Live Laugh Smile will feature over 2,000 costumes and complex set changes. The Gang Show is a real family affair as we take a sneak peek into one family who have been volunteering backstage for over 30 years, how they got involved and where they are now. Johanne Provins, achieved her Hostess badge with Guildford Girl Guides by serving at a lunch for the cast and crew of Fairfield Gang Show back in the early 70’s. In 1976 she attained her Service badge at Marsden High School helping out in makeup. She had so much fun and talked of it at home, that the rest of her family soon got involved. Christine her sister was in the cast, mum Marion in wardrobe, brother Peter in the orchestra, and eventually her dad volunteered in construction. Although she didn’t know it then, her future sister-in-law, Glennys Gillard was a cast member and is now head of wardrobe. Johanne continued for many years becoming makeup leader for a few years, and semi-retired when the next generation started to come along. Her first child Harry was due on the opening night in 1992 with labour eventually beginning during the finale on the closing night. Johanne was still involved with the show until 1997 when her daughter Neeve was born in the October making it too difficult to manage babies and volunteering. However, she returned to the Gang when Neeve successfully auditioned for the cast in 2009. She received her 30- year scarf in 2016. Meanwhile Christine, Joanne’s sister, enjoyed being in the cast for a couple of years before moving into the production and wardrobe departments, helping design some of the costumes. Since then she has owned two costume shops in Australia and New Zealand, and worked in costume departments for film and stage productions. Johanne’s mum, Marion, was always an excellent seamstress, always well organised and made a great wardrobe leader for many years. Marion’s speciality was making weird and wonderful costume ideas into reality, including a robot costume from silver air-conditioning cylinders. Sadly, ill health forced her to put down the needle and thread in 1997. Johanne’s dad, Bob, excelled in construction and was department leader for numerous years, receiving his 40-year scarf in 2015 as acknowledgement of his enormous contribution. Leveraging his timber business in Fairfield and the many contacts in the building industry, the construction budget was kept to a minimum. Many a time Johanne would arrive home to find another weird contraption erected in the backyard. He has now retired to the Central Coast. Johanne’s son, Harry, also volunteered, dabbling in all areas of backstage until finding his home with the lighting team. Through the Cumberland Gang Show, he got his work experience and first job at Riverside Theatres. He now is the supervisor for the lighting department of the Concourse Theatre, Chatswood. Johanne’s daughter, Neeve, is still performing in the show heading into her ninth season. Following in her family’s footsteps, she has taken on several roles and in 2017 is a Patrol Leader, a Workshop Co-ordinator, and on the planning committee for the show’s 50 year celebrations. She is also part of the marketing team having graduated with a Diploma of Advertising and Media at college. Gang Show has always been a love and a passion of hers and with all the years of her family’s support, it was no surprise she was keen to get on stage and get involved. One family. Three generations. Over 40 years’ experience. And countless stitches, nails, light bulbs, dance steps, make-up brushes and memories. 53