Scouts Shouts Youth Theatre

Scouts Shouts Youth Theatre’s main goal is to train youth members in all areas of the theatre and performing arts. All our cast are members of the Scout and Guide Associations in South Australia and are under the age of 26, with an interest in theatre and who want to learn the craft. In addition to giving cast the experience of being on stage, we are also a training ground for people who have an interest in the backstage areas of a performance, such as set design and construction, audio, makeup, costumes and lighting. Many of these positions are led by people under 26, under the guidance of experienced mentors.

Scouts Shouts is a not for profit organisation, run by volunteers. Our production consists of two acts, the first which is created and written by a team of writers to produce an original production each year. The second act is a variety style of show, conceived, written and directed by our youth members in the Young Directors program.

The Young Directors program is the opportunity for any cast member to attend a weekend workshop, where after a theme is assigned, gang members brainstorm item ideas and concepts which are then developed. The successful items are then workshopped with the production team and the second half coordinator to put the second act together. The youth member is then given the opportunity to direct the cast and put their ideas to the crew members to make their vision come alive.

Many of our crew are former cast members. We have had several members of our gang who have gone on to be successful actors or gained employment as crew members within the entertainment industry around Australia.

We follow the principals of Scouting and Guiding in that we are youth focused and encourage leadership within our gang. We believe that Scouts Shouts Youth Theatre is a family and we share a common goal. Being a part of the gang means that you have made friendships that often last a life time.

In 1973 a young leader of the 1st Salisbury Group, David Ryder, had ambitions to take his scouts to the snow fields for a winter camp. David came up with a unique fund raising venture, a Group Gang Show. Armed with an abundance of Ralph Reader material, a rent free Scout Hall and a group of eager would be performers Scout Shouts was born.

The first performance was in the newly built 1st Salisbury Scout Hall and was directed by the now legendary Mike Linscott. His support crew included his wife Carole, Barry Plush, Ken Sandford, Alan Thompson and of course Dave Ryder. All this was carefully watched over by the then Group Leader Tug Wilson, who made sure that the show maintained the Scouting First ethos.

Our shows first few years didn't really have a venue to call home for performances. Having performed at the Levels and Salisbury institute, in 1981 the decision was made to perform at the Parks Community Centre in a "theatre in the round" format. The Parks was our home until 2013 when the theatre was closed as part of a major complex overhaul which saw us move to the Golden Grove Arts Centre for our 40th season.

The move to Golden Grove has allowed us to grow with a larger theatre, increased seating capacity, large stage floor and extra space back stage which gives us the flexibility to grow and further enhance the show. The last 40 years of the show has seen amazing growth, from the first show where 180 people crammed in the newly built scout hall for a two night season to our latest season with dramatically different capacity and facilities!

The format of the show has evolved over the years from the Ralph Reader Style of stage show to a style that made the most of the Parks amphitheatre stage and now the much larger yet still intimate Golden Grove stage. The two halves of the show allow for a fully produced play in one half and a second half that features a variety of themed items produced by our Young Director program.

In 1996, Scout Shouts left behind the Gang Show tag and officially become Scout Shouts Youth Theatre. Our success is the direct result the collaboration of Joeys, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers, Rovers and of course Guides working together to produce a very creative theatrical performance for over 40yrs.