Jock Shaw Interview: Jock's Love of Theatre & Discovering the Theatre Royal Baths
Title
Jock Shaw Interview: Jock's Love of Theatre & Discovering the Theatre Royal Baths
Date
4 September 2017
Description
Oral interview with Robert 'Jock' Shaw, one of the long-standing producers of the Gang Show, the biennial variety show at the Theatre Royal presented by Nottinghamshire Scouts and Guides.
What's the story?
Established at the Theatre Royal since 1953, the Gang Show involves around 200 young people from the Scouting and Guiding movements in the county.
The show is a mix of songs, dance and comedy sketches, which gives the performers an opportunity to hone their skills over a six-month period of rehearsal before the week-long show in the spring.
Born and brought up in West Bridgford, Robert ‘Jock’ Shaw was involved with the Scouts as a child and later became a Scout Leader, as well as one of the Gang Show producers.
Jock’s passion and enthusiasm for both theatre and his work with young people is evident throughout.
In this interview Jock describes his own love for theatre and the joy of discovering the Theatre Royal’s baths and how this provided an opportunity, whilst relaxing, to listen to all the backstage gossip:
You need to know everything that goes on, I should think. I love Theatre. If I had my life again, I think I would have come into the theatre and worked for nothing. Mac and Mike here, when I’ve said that to them have said “You must be mental!” But I do. I love it. When I come here, I just love walking through the door. I can remember times when, little things. When I produced, I used to get here early. That was one of the best things I ever did. I stumbled over the baths. There’s four bathrooms down below. So I thought, I know what I’ll do. I’ll get myself a coffee and a paper. I always came in early as a producer, so you can sort out any bits with the props or this that and the other with the people that do that. So I thought I’ll go and sit in the bath. The best thing I ever did. I filled the bath with hot water, sat in it, read the paper and then, I didn’t get out of the bath straight away because all I did was listen to all the cast gossiping outside the door, because they didn’t know I was sitting inside the bath, so I just sat in the bath listening to this “So and so said this last night”. All that lark. And all the cast kept walking by, and of course the backstage staff as well. Some of the older ones: “Oh yeah …”. It was brilliant. That was one of the funniest moments that I can remember in there. There’s lots of little stories in there, but that’s one of them I do remember.
The show is a mix of songs, dance and comedy sketches, which gives the performers an opportunity to hone their skills over a six-month period of rehearsal before the week-long show in the spring.
Born and brought up in West Bridgford, Robert ‘Jock’ Shaw was involved with the Scouts as a child and later became a Scout Leader, as well as one of the Gang Show producers.
Jock’s passion and enthusiasm for both theatre and his work with young people is evident throughout.
In this interview Jock describes his own love for theatre and the joy of discovering the Theatre Royal’s baths and how this provided an opportunity, whilst relaxing, to listen to all the backstage gossip:
You need to know everything that goes on, I should think. I love Theatre. If I had my life again, I think I would have come into the theatre and worked for nothing. Mac and Mike here, when I’ve said that to them have said “You must be mental!” But I do. I love it. When I come here, I just love walking through the door. I can remember times when, little things. When I produced, I used to get here early. That was one of the best things I ever did. I stumbled over the baths. There’s four bathrooms down below. So I thought, I know what I’ll do. I’ll get myself a coffee and a paper. I always came in early as a producer, so you can sort out any bits with the props or this that and the other with the people that do that. So I thought I’ll go and sit in the bath. The best thing I ever did. I filled the bath with hot water, sat in it, read the paper and then, I didn’t get out of the bath straight away because all I did was listen to all the cast gossiping outside the door, because they didn’t know I was sitting inside the bath, so I just sat in the bath listening to this “So and so said this last night”. All that lark. And all the cast kept walking by, and of course the backstage staff as well. Some of the older ones: “Oh yeah …”. It was brilliant. That was one of the funniest moments that I can remember in there. There’s lots of little stories in there, but that’s one of them I do remember.
Type
Oral interview
Location of item
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Rights
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Contributor
Interviewers: Julia Holmes & Sue Threakall
Transcriber: David Chilton
Transcriber: David Chilton
