NEVER before has the Crediton Society CODS won such a prestigious award, but that is what it did with its production of "Made in Dagenham", which it staged in Crediton in April 2017.

CODS was nominated for three awards by NODA SW, the National Operatic and Dramatic Association for the South West region which runs from Swindon to Penzance.

The nominations were Best Musical Production for “Made in Dagenham”, Best Innovative Production for “Snow White and the Six and a Half Dwarves” and Award for a Concert or Compilation for “Heaven and Earth”.

It was at a glittering awards ceremony held in Bristol that CODS was announced at the climax of the evening as winner of Best Musical.

The nominations had included COS Productions Cirencester for “Fiddler on the Roof”, Bournemouth and Boscombe LOC for “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”, CODS Crediton for “Made in Dagenham”, BLOC Productions (Bristol) for “My Fair Lady”, TAOS Taunton for “9-5 The Musical”, Bridgwater Operatic Society for “42nd Street”, Motiv8 for “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”, Bath Light Opera Group for “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”, Tops Musical Productions for “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”.

CODS spokesman, Mike Palmer, said: “You can imagine the joy of the members of CODS sitting at their table when the announcement was made that they had won! ‘Made in Dagenham’ was indeed the ‘Best in the West’.

“Best Musical represents quite an achievement for a society that doesn’t have a theatre to perform in. But on the other hand, perhaps that is CODS strength.

“The society is often complimented for it’s originality in the way it presents it’s shows, for the hard work in setting productions up where everything has to be brought in to make a theatre, and also for its original choice of productions.”

“Made in Dagenham” was directed by Emily Killeen and musically directed by Allan Fouracre.

The very same team are at work again this year with the CODS production of “Witchfinder”, at Queen Elizabeth’s Lower School from April 9 to 14.

Alan Quick