COVID-19 may have wreaked havoc on Girlguiding Stone Outward Divisions highly anticipated upcoming variety show – ‘A Handful of Songs’ – but determined youngsters from across the area have vowed that the show must go on!
Performed every two years by generations of Girlguiding members, A Handful of Songs was created in 1975 by Maureen Recine, then Guide Captain of Barlaston Guide Company.
In true Girlguiding spirit, the cast and crew, despite being devastated when, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s April show had to be cancelled, the team and performers are continuing to practice and perform to each other – on the virtual stage.
From its humble beginnings, when a Christmas show put on for the residents of Barlaston which was met with huge joy and the seed was sown for the start of something very special, 45 years later A Handful of Songs has gone from strength to strength. It has now found its feet on a professional theatre stage and is the only national biennial Girlguiding show in the UK as far as we know!. The show has even been on the West End stage in London!
The shows prides itself on being open to all Girlguiding members, with no auditions. It promises to give them a unique experience being part of a professional show and the opportunity to learn new skills, singing, dancing and acting alongside meeting new friends and having a whole load of fun mixed in to!
This year, the girls were due to sing, dance and impress with comedy talents, with the delights of West End musicals mixed with a touch of Disney and sounds straight from the charts. Over 38 songs, hundreds of costumes and some razzle dazzle added to the talents of a group of young and passionate cast members.
But despite disappointment, in true Handful of Songs spirit, the show must go on! The cast and crew have tackled the current COVID-19 situation by going virtual. You can see their progress and keep up to date with developments at their Facebook page.
Producer Maureen Recine commented “Regular online get-togethers have allowed the cast and crew to keep in touch as well as continue to practice the songs and dances within the show. Seeing each other has brought massive smiles to the young cast members and a little bit of normality in a world full of uncertainty.
With all the hard work that has been put in from January 2020, this virtual opportunity has provided consistency and we hope that when we are through this storm, Handful of Songs 2020 will take to the stage and “wow” audiences once again in early 2021”.
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