IT is a few weeks late, but Happy New Year from CODS members to all our Friends and followers, and of course all our "Crediton Courier" readers.

Now here’s a quiz question for you, though it probably won’t come up at your next local pub quiz. What do the following have in common? The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the Radio City Music Hall in New York, the Royal Albert Hall in London and the City Centre Marriott in Bristol.

Got the answer? I’m sure you knew it immediately! It is of course, they are all the selected venues for prestigious awards.

These being the Oscars in Los Angeles, The Tony Awards in New York, the Olivier Awards in London and the NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) South West Theatre Awards in Bristol.

They have something else in common too. They are all eagerly anticipated, and represent the best of the skills and technical achievement involved with the theatrical world. (Ok the Oscars are on celluloid, but it’s practically the same thing!)

The NODA South West awards are presented for recognised achievements in Amateur productions and performances spanning the area from Bath all the way down to Penzance.

That’s a great many societies and theatre groups. If you get a nomination in any one of the NODA categories your company has done well.

So it is with great pleasure that CODS can announce that they have nominations in, not one, not even two, but three awards for 2017. Oh how we love the applause!

So on Saturday, March 3 members from CODS will be setting off up the M5 to Bristol to see if the nominations turn into actual awards. Competition is stiff, we are judged against companies with real theatres in which to perform.

Places with real stages, fly lofts, orchestra pits, installed lighting rigs and sound systems, and comfortable seats! Societies with quite a few more members and rather more cash resources. But that’s not really the point, to be nominated from all the many societies in the South West is fantastic, to actually win in any one of the categories would be a bonus.

Our nominations are as follows: The best Concert or Compilation (there are five nominations). Ours was for the September evenings 2017 "Heaven and Earth".

The award for the most Innovative Production (there are four nominations). Ours was for "Snow White and the Six and-a-Half Dwarves".

The last is probably the most hotly contested and most prestigious, namely the Best Musical in the South West (there are nine nominations). Ours was for "Made in Dagenham".

Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us if you can as we look forward to an exciting evening at the Marriott, Bristol in March. It will be a fun night.

But whatever the outcome CODS has enjoyed a memorable year with five productions. The three mentioned above, plus "Love From A Stranger" in October, and "The Vagina Monologues" performed as part of the Crediton Festival.

We are lucky enough to have many keen, talented and hardworking performers, supported by a great team of backstage workers in all departments. Lighting, costume, scenery, publicity and not forgetting the huge amount of administrative planning and preparation, which gets little or no recognition.

We are indebted to our supporters who regularly turn out and see the shows. Thanks to you three of this years’ shows have had “sold out” notices displayed. On two occasions three weeks before the event!

We also thank our sponsors for helping us considerably with the ever-increasing cost of productions. Their contribution is so important to us and really does make a difference.

So what’s next? CODS is like the old Windmill Theatre it seems, we could well share the same motto - “We never close”.

Most importantly, the next date for your diary is April 9 to 14. The venue is QE Lower School (Barnfield) and the show is “Witchfinder" by Martin Roche and Ian Crabtree. A “new” musical in the sense that it is relatively unknown.

Indeed, it is very possible that you may never have heard of it, but please, please don’t let that put you off. Once upon a time no-one had heard of "Phantom of the Opera", “Evita" or "Les Miserables", but look at them now!

This is a stunning story with gorgeous music.

So many people enjoyed "Made in Dagenham", and while the shows couldn’t be more different, we have the same Director, Musical Director and production team in place.

“Witchfinder" will stir your emotions, pull at your heart strings and probably make you think a good deal about a time 400 years ago when our country was a very different place.

More of the story, its setting and how CODS are working towards this exciting “new” show in future “Courier” articles, but for the moment just earmark the date, tell your friends and see it you can help CODS get another “Best Musical” nomination for 2018.

Now there’s a thought!

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Mike Palmer