BELIEVE it or not, a rainbow appeared in the sky on Tuesday morning . . . the day Taunton’s Brewhouse Theatre re-opened.

Whatever the beauty of this hopeful omen, it wasn’t a patch on the bright colour burst of the Taunton Gang Show, back in its rightful home.

Pooling together the best bits from 25 years of Gang Show history, this is a true variety show from the county town’s scouts and guides.

By rights it’ll be a wonder if they’ve not all lost their voices by the end of the run, considering the sheer volume of heart and soul they pour into their performances.

Here’s a flavour. ‘Big Top’, as the big opener, brings the circus to town with a flurry of UV effects, unicycling, plate spinning, juggling, clowns and a female ringmistress.

Urban song medley ‘The City’ has the Gang dressed in black, doing a high-speed weave around one another like rat-race commuters, singing Petula Clark and Frank Sinatra with a touch of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

Two men, dressed as nuns, launching into ‘Let’s Get Ready To Rumble’, complete with PJ & Duncan dance moves? That’s skit, ‘Ding Dong’, and guaranteed to make you chuckle.

There are flashes of bhangra dance and Michael Jackson, a sweet and funny penguin routine, a Jesus Chris Superstar gem and a ghoulish ‘Thriller’.

This was contrasted by a truly moving Help For Heroes performance accompanied beautifully by signing and boosted by the group’s lovely harmonies.

“We don’t want to go home!” sing the 2014 Gang in their finale, singing proudly to the audience in their hard-won red neckerchiefs, their clothes adorned with badges.

Not yet got your ticket? Get in quick – this production is on every night this week at 7.15pm until Saturday, including a 2.15pm matinee.

Tickets cost £8.50/£7.50 for Wednesday and Thursday, £9/£8 for Thursday and Friday, £8.50/£7.50 for the Saturday 2.30pm matinee and £11 for Saturday night from Taunton Tourist Information Centre on 01823-336344.

Gang Show producer Dave Mullen, said: “I want to say to the directors of the Taunton Theatre Association, thank you very, very much – without you we wouldn’t have the Brewhouse open again.”

Summing up, TTA’s Phil Bower said: “Five weeks of 18 hour days, times about 12 people, equals a new theatre, open for Taunton.

“They’ll have to call it the recipe for re-opening a theatre!”

SEE the full picture-filled report in your copy of the County Gazette on Thursday April 10.