SPEAKEASY songs, aquatic adventures and a fabulous finale formed another successful Chester Gang Show.

More than 70 local Scouts, from just six years old and upwards, took part in last week’s show, held at The King's School's Vanbrugh Theatre, Chester.

It was the city's 63rd annual production featuring music, dance and comedy, and attracted sell-out crowds.

Show highlights included the prohibition era themed ‘Noir,’ set in Bouncin’ Bobby’s Speakeasy, where illicit milkshakes and frozen yoghurt were the order of the day.

The story unfolded through modern pop songs such as ‘Oops, I Did It Again’, and ‘Call Me Maybe’ which had been given a sophisticated Charleston makeover.

Explorer Scout Anna Clough, 14, dazzled with a solo rendition of ‘If It’s Magic,’ by Stevie Wonder, while the high-energy dance spectacular ‘Who Run the World,’ was brilliantly choreographed by Cat Hirst and Jess Taker.

The show was highly praised by the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Alex Black, who attended on Wednesday.

He said: "I think it’s just amazing how you young people come together, and you work so hard to put on this wonderful show. I’m certainly going to come back next year!"

Andrew Corrie, Scouts North West Regional Commissioner, added: "Chester Gang Show has to be up there with the best of the Gang Shows. It’s right up at the top."

Elsewhere in the show, ‘Cubmarine Adventures – The Sea-Quell’, provided the opportunity for many aquatic puns, and some joyous chorus numbers involving Scouts, Cubs and Beavers, including ‘Octopus’s Garden,’ and ‘We All Stand Together.’

Many of the Gang were performing in public for the first time. The Beaver Scouts (aged six and seven) received rapturous applause for their enthusiastic version of ‘Baby Shark’, dressed in their inventive shark’s head hooded costumes.

The show finale was an uplifting combination of ‘We Are One,’ (The Lion King 2), ‘From Now On,’ (The Greatest Showman), and the Gang Show standards ‘Great, Great Game’ and ‘Crest of a Wave.’

Gang Show producer Keith Harding said: "We're delighted the show has been so well received, with audience members from as far afield as Blackpool and Bradford.

"I am immensely proud of everyone involved with Chester Gang Show 2019, and what we’ve achieved together, as one brilliant Scouting family."

Gang Show chair Alex Davies added: "You can see from the young people’s faces how much they’ve enjoyed the experience, and the confidence they’ve gained has been incredible. Scouting truly is amazing."

Chester Gang Show returns in February 2020.