On the road to Broadway through Scouts' Gang Show

Lillie Bishop’s friends describe her as having a singing voice larger than her personality. It gives her a way to be creative and free. What many of her classmates don’t realise, however, is she can develop this talent at Scouts.

The 1st Ourimbah Venturer Scout, aged 15, has been participating in Gang Show for seven years, performing onstage for both Central Coast and Hornsby, and this year joining the production crew as well. She said she first found out about Gang Show when she was eight or nine when her mum introduced her to it (both her parents are “Scouting fanatics”).

“When I was eight or nine, mum saw about Gang Show and she once had friends in it too, so thought it would be a great idea to take me to see it as I loved singing, dancing and theatrics. I really enjoyed myself watching the show, so the following year I was enrolled. Since then, it’s been seven years of pure joy and fun,” she said.

“It gives everyone a great chance to be part of something where they can really let their true colours shine. And Gang Show really gives you a chance to give everything a go – singing, dancing and acting of course.

“Central Coast Gang Show in 2024 made the very sad decision to not put on a show. This year, when I heard they were going to put it back on, I made the big decision to join production to help out my Leaders as best as I can. I have a blast teaching people dance moves, seeing all the behind-the-scenes information and really seeing everything from the roots to the teaching and, soon, the end product.”

It is Lillie’s dream to one day become part of a Broadway production at least once, as she’s inspired by stage shows such as Wicked The Musical, The Lion King and Hamilton. She finds joy in singing and playing the guitar, which she also brought along to the Australian Jamboree in Maryborough in January, bringing music and joy to the campsite and those around her.

“Music takes me places reading a book couldn’t. Music lets me calm all the thoughts in my head and lets me imagine. To be perfectly honest, I probably started music to bring joy to others, but deep down to bring joy to myself as performing anything gives me a rush that I only think this and abseiling gives me,” she said.

“Scouts in general gives you so many opportunities and I don’t think tons of people understand that. I get told all the time by my school friends, ‘oh, did you go to Scouts last night and tied knots?’ or ‘how was cooking on the fire and putting up your tent last night?’ Mind, it was a random Tuesday night.

“I, through Scouts, have experienced so many amazing, wonderful and beautiful experiences from being at the end of the trail on my first ever three-night hike; experiencing the feeling of knowing that I helped a younger Scout conquer their fear of heights through belaying them down their first rock side; to standing on an open stage by myself and singing to a crowd of people that I probably have never met before and realising how much more exhilarating life is than just my room and my school and the small place in between.

“I also do so much more than theatre. I got my Australian Scout Award last year and am currently working towards my King’s Scout Award. I’m currently in my school musical as a pretty major role, and I do activities through Scouts like art, theatre, farming, beekeeping, cooking way too much (according to my mum), sewing and crocheting, fundraising and Bunnings barbecues up to my eyeballs, volunteer at our Cub Scout Unit, abseiling and belaying, hiking and camping – but I think that’s a given, being Unit Chair for my Venturer Scout Unit at 1st Ourimbah Scout Group – and so much more!”

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