Rehearsals are already under way for next year’s Letchworth and Baldock District Gang Show 2016 – but there is still time to get involved if you get your skates on.

The variety show is in its 51st year and is open to all members of scouting and guiding from cub and brownie age upwards.

District secretary Apryl Goodwin said: “This year we’re doing a tribute to the artists that have passed on, so there will be a bit of Cilla Black in there.

“We’ve also got a tribal section and a section on royalty with songs from Queen, Prince and The Kings of Leon.”

Weekly rehearsals for the show, which will be staged in March, are already under way to ensure a tip-top production at St Francis College in Broadway, Letchworth.

Apryl said: “We want children to gain confidence and to be comfortable being themselves – the performance is based on the ideas they come up with so it really is their show.

“Sometimes we’ll have a child arrive and they won’t let go of mum’s hand for two or three weeks and by the time the show comes around they’re on stage doing a solo or reading a piece poetry all on their own, it’s brilliant.”

Adults involved in scouting and guiding are also welcomed into the show.

Apryl said. “There’s no upper age limit - we have a gentleman in the cast who is 67. We are one big family that just does everything together”

Apryl added that there are plenty of backstage jobs for those who wish to take on a more technical role.

“Whether you’re in a lighting booth or doing costumes or make up or just helping backstage generally, everyone has their own responsibility and can fulfil it to the extent they are happy with.”

Rehearsals are held at 1st Baldock Scout Hall, Park Drive, Baldock every Saturday from 2pm-3.30pm for cubs and brownies and at 3.30pm-5pm for all other groups.

The last day to sign up is tomorrow, Saturday – email gang.show@hotmail.co.uk for more details.