ONE of the positive things to come out of the COVID lockdown is the complete transformation of our Town Square and the way in which the local community has turned the area into a popular meeting place.

Friends and family can meet and enjoy the hospitality on offer from the local coffee shops and bars, and the pine benches not only look good but also make the “rule of six” so much easier to adhere to.

Another enhancement is the entertainment that has been offered. This is often led by Jack Robson of the Crediton Arts Centre which was given a grant by Mid Devon Council to contribute to any expenses for staging such events.

These entertainment sessions have not been concerts but a chance for those who enjoy entertaining others to at last get out and dust off the cobwebs that had been built up in the musical inactivity that Lockdown had brought to many.

Those out for their walk or cups of coffee are able to continue their socialising, while being aware of the entertainment in the background and remaining safely distanced.

CODS was just about to stage its annual musical production – which this year was to be “Sister Act” – when life went on hold and socialising became restricted.

Fortunately, the licenser agreed to hold over the performance for 12 months and it is still the intention to put on the show from April 12 to April 17, 2021. So all of those people who have a credit for next year’s tickets, put these dates in your diary!

While this is undoubtedly some good news to cling to, it has to be countered by the fact that unfortunately CODS has had to cancel its September Concert Evenings, its October Drama Production and its Christmas Panto, all of which help to raise significant resources to offset the losses of staging a major musical.

The good news is that CODS is being given the opportunity to perform in the Town Square on Saturday, October 10 from 11am.

Apart from one or more small group numbers, individual members are turning up to give you some light entertainment and our resident MD, Allan Fouracre, is making the trip up from Hayle to accompany those that need it.

Members have been rehearsing individually at home and at present the co-ordinator, Gill Mackenzie, hasn’t yet got a definitive list of offerings but is expecting to have sufficient content to fill at least an hour.

Those who maybe go to the square later could well find the programme being repeated at 12.30pm after The Three Little Pigs has opened and the entertainers have been able to suitably “wet their whistle”.

One of the items that has needed rehearsing involved a group of seven which was completely thrown up in the air by the “rule of six” but the group has managed to find a way of getting round this without breaking the rules.

Gill says: “I thought it important to make the morning light-hearted and not full of serious numbers and power ballads. Hopefully the programme will have something that appeals to all, whether they be young or old.

“I am still hopeful that there could be a surprise guest artist from Memphis! I believe there is even a possibility of a new take on a traditional nursery rhyme in the offering which could involve some very strange characters!”

It would be brilliant if the sun shines and the square is full – all socially-distanced of course! CODS hope that many of you will venture down to enjoy the last Saturday morning entertainment of the year, before the awnings and the microphones are packed away for the winter ready to emerge once again in 2021, when hopefully life is back to some kind of normality.

Mike Canning