The most famous gang are back in town and feeling in a very patriotic mood.

More than 300 enthusiastic Scouts, Cubs and Guides and their leaders are staging the Oxford Gang Show all this week at the New Theatre, Oxford, and giving the audience a welcome musical trip down memory lane.

This nostalgic feast of music, song and dance, sponsored by the Oxford Mail, is a fitting way to celebrate the centenary of Scouting in 2007.

It also offers youngsters a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on a professional stage.

There are two gangs - the junior gang for youngsters aged eight to 12, and the senior gang, the oldest member being a lady in her 70s.

In recent years, the show has introduced a programme of musical scenarios and sketches that reflect the ever-changing world in which we live.

However, new director and Guide leader Kim Griffiths has decided it's time to take a step back in time and bring back some of those memorable Gang Show songs of the last century. What a perfect time to ring the changes.

The old style' show proved a big success, judging from the enthusiastic audience on the opening night.

However, the show started off with a modern theme when Scout leader Sue Royall set the scene with Cabaret.

But it was not long before we were treated to Gang Show classics such as Fairytales and Little Black Bag.

Surprisingly, the patriotic highlight of the show came at end of the first half as the audience rose to its feet for the National Anthem, followed by songs such as Jerusalem and I Vow to Thee My Country, which produced scenes reminiscent of the Last Night of the Proms.

Performed in front of a Union Jack and making excellent use of a red, white and blue lighting plot, the gang were stirred on by a flag-waving and cheering family audience.

Further reminders of the past were provided by 100 Years of Scouting, where old images were projected on to a screen. while the gang made a musical tribute to their founder, Lord Baden-Powell.

After the interval some of the gang bathed in glory with Splish Splash, part of a musical tribute to Bobby Darin, which also included Mack the Knife.

As in previous years, musical director Sarah Bradley took the baton and was assisted by Paul Martin.

Well-scripted sketches included pantomime-style scenes in a launderette and a hairdressers - simple but most effective acting.

My highlights of the two-hour show were a convincing Riverdance routine and Magical Book Tour where characters came to life.

The Oxford Gang Show continues nightly until Saturday when there will also be a matinee performance. Tickets, which cost £5.50 to £9.50, are available from the theatre, or online from the show's website www. oxfordgangshow.org.uk or from www.ticketmaster.co.uk