In the early 1930’s. the late Ralph Reader CBE., a London Rover Scout and professional theatrical dancer and producer, wrote and organised a Scout Gang Show. This London beginning was soon followed, in other parts of the country, by Scouts producing Gang Shows. using the words and music created mainly by Ralph Reader.

In 1937 the moving force for such a show in Colchester was David Papillon, the District Commissioner. About 50 Scouts and Leaders turned up from Groups around the town for the first show. Mr E H Skinner, a well known local producer. and Mr H Durrant. musical director, were ready to produce the show, "These Are The Times", which ran during Easter week in 1938 at the Albert Hall in High Street (Now the Co-operative Bank). Hugh Markham and his team worked wonders on the staging and, of course, there was plenty of "behind the scenes" work with the assistance of the Colchester  Operatic Society.  The Show was attended by the then Mayor Alderman Blaxill and was well received by the town in general.

This led to another Colchester Gang Show at Easter 1939 before Mr Hitler intervened and no shows were produced for over a decade. 1953 saw the resurrection of Scouts on stage in Colchester when a play written by Ralph Reader entitled "Great Oaks" was presented at the Co-Op Hall, Victoria Place. Soon a whole series of Gang Shows followed, "Red. White, and Blue" in 1956, ".Something To Remember" in 1957, "Hello Mum" in 1958 and "Going Fine" in 1959.

Then a 10 year famine with only one show, "It’s a Great Game" between 1959 and 1969. By this time, one of the original members of the 1939 show, the late Dick Munson, was producing the Chelmsford Gang Show and he suggested that his deputy, Jack Levett, might be interested in helping to re–launch our show.  So it was, that Jack produced the first of the current series of 34 shows, "Home Again", at Easter 1969, and went on to produce a further six shows.