Welcome to Southend Scout and Guide Gang Show's monthly feature 'Catching up with'. Here we will catch up with cast past and present as well as the adult volunteers who make It's a Date and SHINDIGS possible. 

This month we talk with former Southend Gang Show cast member now turned show Marketing Manager, James Jackson

1. Introduce yourself and tell us what your role within Southend Gang Show is?
   
   My name is James Jackson and I’m a former cast member of Southend Gang Show and now volunteer as marketing manager.
    
2. When was your first Southend Gang Show and how many shows have you now been a part of?
   
   My first Southend Gang Show was in 2008 when the show was performed at Shoeburyness High School. I’ve been in the show ever since.
    
3. Best moment being a part of Southend Gang Show?
   
   The buzz you get when performing on stage is hands down the best part of being a part of Southend Gang Show. You make some lifelong friends and have great fun in the process but nothing can beat the on stage buzz.
   
   Since I’ve become marketing manager getting a record amount of PR coverage for the 2016 show was also a real highlight.
    
4. What do you get out of being a part of Southend Gang Show and why do you think people should get involved in SHINDIGS 2017?
   
   Southend Gang show offers so much to everyone that’s involved, through those four months of rehearsals and the show week you create lifelong friendships. The majority of my friends today all either were involved or still are involved in Gang Show.
   
   Scouts and Guides from Southend, Rayleigh, Crouch Valley and Castle Point should get involved in SHINDIGS 2017 because it’s the start of a journey. Getting that first taste of performing on stage can then take you to the Palace Theatre with Gang Show whilst learning so much and making new friends along the way.
    
5. Favourite Southend Gang Show item?
   
   My favourite item that I’ve been in has got to be Puss in Boots from 2012 and my favourite item in general, was probably Cowboys in 2014.
    
6. What have you been up to in the past few months since It’s a Date 2016?
   
   Since It’s a Date 2016 I’ve been involved in various Scouting and Guiding activities, as a part of Southend Gang Show ASU and Southend Synergy Network we’ve had camps and meetings on a regular basis. As part of the It’s a Knockout team I also took part in Essex Jamboree which was an incredible week.
   
   I’ve also recently joined Vodafone and therefore looking to get more involved in the digital maker badges that they sponsor as part of their agreement with the Scout Association.
    
7. What are you most looking forward to about the next SHINDIGS/It’s a Date?
   
   Definitely looking forward to seeing all the new faces that get involved in SHINDIGS and It’s a Date. It’s also always great to see the final show performance of both to see how far the cast and band have come.