SCOUTS!

Hope Mill Theatre

★★★½

“will warm your heart and bring a genuine smile of delight”

Enter the high-stakes, competitive, life-affirming world of scouting, where we join the competitors preparing for the final of ‘The Scout Games’. The winning of the only ‘gold badge’ (hand stitched by Baden-Powell) is the goal of both the scouts on stage and the audience members (scouts and leaders themselves at this performance) who are game enough to join in a range of hilarious tasks. However, there is a saboteur at large, a disillusioned and ‘poor loser’ Scout from a previous ‘games’, intent on causing mayhem and discrediting the very core reputation of the organisation. Through many trials and catchy numbers too, good triumphs over evil, the power of true friendship wins through and we all learn what is important in life and in the scouting movement: to help other people, make friends and learn new skills.

Gigglemug Theatre worked closely with the Scout Association and has tried here to capture the essence of scouting, from the gaining of social and life skills amongst children who might otherwise feel ‘outsiders’, to the chaotic world of camping, competing for badges (real and, here, imagined, such as the ‘hypnosis’ badge) and learning how to win and lose gracefully.

Sam Cochrane (director) made some memorable decisions (the gold dust sprinkled gold badge, for one). Katie Pritchard as Rosie brought great physicality and comedic timing to her role, with superb vocals from both Eleanor Fransch as Eliza and Emily Kitchingham as Charlotte. Burhan Kathawala charmed as the somewhat vulnerable but ultimately brave Joe. Kemi Clarke led the pace and energetically portrayed scout leader Dylan. Rob Gathercole (also musical director / keyboards) was in his element playing the over-the-top and improbably talented (being skilled in many areas including healing missing limbs) Linus Lionheart, the TV personality and former scout who was the role model for the competing scouts. The cast all played multiple instruments and were on stage almost the whole time. At times, the number of instruments and changes was a distraction to following the narrative and I would have preferred to listen to the vocalist perform without a guitar, for example. However, this does not take away from the recognition of the multiple skill sets required for this audience-engaging performance, with the pace only struggling a little in the second act.

The musical numbers feature an enjoyable range of genres, from 1950s style rock and roll, to rap and pop. Definitely not ‘found a peanut’ singalongs, the music is carefully crafted by David Fallon (music and lyrics) and Sam Cochrane (book, lyrics and direction) with solos, duets, and ensemble multi-part numbers being used to advance the plot and characters as well as to introduce many favourite themes loved by scouts, such as the ‘scout law’. Indeed, the lyrics were so full of information that I did spend some time trying to catch each word and wondering if I needed to remember the facts being dropped in. Perhaps the relative complexity of some of the music and plot was a mismatch for the younger members of the audience, but ‘The Trance Dance’, ‘Bad Badge’ and ‘Home’ were particular favourites.

The set (three drop down banners) was cleverly simple and effective for this touring production, which was needed when the stage is so full of musical instruments – I counted eleven plus a kazoo! Using three ‘tree stumps’ for the awards also gave an interesting stage height difference when needed.

Gigglemug Theatre’s touring production of their latest feelgood musical theatre show, is a fun exploration of the core positive messages of scouting, which will warm your heart and bring a genuine smile of delight, whilst enjoying the frolics of this energetic cast of actor-musicians.

SCOUTS!

Hope Mill Theatre the UK Tour continues

Reviewed on 14th June 2025

by Lucy Williams

Photography by Benkin Photography

Previously reviewed by Lucy:

SLAVE: A QUESTION OF FREEDOM | ★★★★ | THE LOWRY | October 2024

WAR HORSE | ★★★★★ | THE LOWRY | September 2024

EDWARD’S TALK: WHAT’S DRIVING YOU? | ★★★ | EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE | August 2024

GODFATHER DEATH: A GRIMMS’ MUSICAL | ★★★★★ | EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE | August 2024

SCOUTS!

★★★★

“Moments of lightness or humour are rare, but welcome, during the work, which is a hard watch for a compassionate audience”

Co-adapted for stage by Kevin Fegan and Caroline Clegg from the autobiography Slave (Virago) by Mende Nazer and Damien Lewis, this is a raw and emotional retelling of Nazar’s slavery in Sudan and England and how these experiences have formed her life and its mission. ‘Slave: A Question of Freedom’ does not shrink from reality, it is a powerful personal story and a clarion call on behalf of all victims of slavery and trafficking today.

Mende Condo (played with real emotion by Yolanda Ovide) grows up in the mountains of Nuba in the north of Sudan. Family village life is happy, yet even at this early stage of her life, a sense of normality disappears when it is clear she has suffered Female Genital Mutilation (referred to in the play as circumcision).

Tragedy unfolds, as Mende and her friend Kheko (a truthful performance by Ebony Feare) are captured in a violent raid by Mujahideen fighters. Mende suffers terribly before being sold into slavery in Khartoum. On the outside, the family are respectable citizens, but behind closed doors, Mende is constantly belittled, victimised and threatened, not allowed to go outside or speak to others. She struggles to accept her everyday existence. Her one true guide is her village elder and spirit guide, (Mohand Abdalrahem) who continues to appear to her.

After being sold to a high ranking family in London, she eventually finds freedom and a way to tell her story, with the help of several brave men and women. Thankfully, we realise that the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which was the result of campaigning which included the first production of this play, has since been enacted to improve legal protections.

Moments of lightness or humour are rare, but welcome, during the work, which is a hard watch for a compassionate audience. Violence, rape and abuse are depicted not graphically, but without flinching or cutting these short. Director Caroline Clegg is clearly deeply driven by the need to tell Mende’s story. Some scenes involving severe trauma feel that they are there to be truthful to the awful reality rather than adding a new element to the impact.

Mende’s mistreatment by the slave-owner wives in Khartoum and London, (Sara Faraj) is striking, any potential female solidarity is overpowered by cultural discrimination against the ‘black people’ of Nuba by the paler skinned Arabic speaking Sudanese. This is not a religious difference – it is racial and cultural and we are reminded that these prejudices are ancient and hard to eradicate. As the play progresses, we understand that this is not a story of the past, it is ongoing, with millions of people affected by the gaslighting and threats which enslavers constantly make to people with language barriers, little knowledge and no friends.

A simple, angled raised circular set (Lara Booth, based on Nigel Hook’s 2010 design) combined with lighting and projections (Tracey Gibbs) to add clarity to the scene changes and provide a suitable setting for the story, despite some minor technical difficulties on this first night.

Nuba inspired rhythms and acapella songs, (Carol Donaldson as composer and Dan Willis as Musical Director) combine with whole-ensemble joyful dance, to provide a sense of place and community as well as a returning theme for Mende, the girl who had been taken so young.

This is a detailed, honest and harrowing retelling of Mende Nazar’s life story. Told mostly in a linear narrative, rather than by exploring themes, at times it feels a little long. However, the incredible bravery of Mende’s voice to tell her personal story is without a doubt the core of the work and the cast work as one to achieve this objective. The audience was moved and inspired by her appearance on stage at the culmination of this performance, to thank those who continue to help campaign for those without a voice.

Tag Archives: Lucy Williams

SCOUTS!

★★★½

UK Tour

SCOUTS!

Hope Mill Theatre

★★★½

“will warm your heart and bring a genuine smile of delight”