AT the time of writing, it is CODS last performance of “Witchfinder”.

The journey started nearly two years ago when the show was selected and the Director and Musical Director were appointed.

It was the same team that crafted “Made in Dagenham” for us. They made such a wonderful job of that show, and now they’ve gone and done it again.

“Witchfinder” has been a remarkable experience. All the hard work of production by a great many people, both on and off the stage, has been rewarded.

It seems everyone from actors and musicians to backstage and bar staff has had a great week.

Most importantly and judging by the many comments, emails, social media posts etc our audiences have also thoroughly enjoyed the show.

Following the last performance we have to take everything apart and return it all to our store. A “pop up” theatre, that took the best part of two weeks to assemble and refine, will disappear in less than a day and the hall will just contain memories and echoes of beautiful songs, glorious choruses and a story that deserved telling.

What happens next for “Witchfinder” the Musical? We don’t know, but there isn’t a member of our society and many of our friends and supporters that won’t wish this show well.

Hopefully we have helped to give it a new lease of life and other societies will decide it’s a show they will enjoy presenting. Why wouldn’t they? With such music it is a fantastic show to sing, and the script records and illuminates a dark period of our history and embellishes it with a love story that pulls at the heartstrings and dramatically demonstrates the effects of the superstition, social class and corruption of power.

CODS would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our patrons who supported the show. As we said throughout the run up to the production, this was an unknown musical, but we were sure it wouldn’t disappoint.

That prediction certainly proved to be true. So we thank you again for trusting us with something new. Once again many thanks for the invaluable support from our sponsors and advertisers.

But what next for CODS? Quite simply, it’s going to continue being very busy. During the long run up to “Witchfinder” other plans were being prepared for our next three events. That’s quite correct, three productions are currently in various stages of planning.

CODS PICK AND MIX

Wednesday, April 18 was the first rehearsal for our September Concerts. This year the theme is “CODS Pick and Mix”. That should give us plenty to choose from!

September 14 and 15 are the dates for your diary and the venue is the Boniface Centre. It probably won’t be too long before the tickets go on sale. Remember they always seem to sell out a couple of weeks before, so when they are released, we suggest you organise your table and get it booked up to avoid disappointment.

Alternatively you may want to come and sing with us. If you do then nothing could be simpler. All you have to do is turn up at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday evening you are able at the Old Town Hall. (the entrance is a few yards up Searle Street) Anyone who would like to join us is very welcome to do so.

CAROUSEL

Monday, April 23, is also a date for your diaries.

CODS musical for Easter 2019 is “Carousel” and the Director of the show has arranged an evening to introduce the production and how he is going to interpret it.

If you are interested in being in this show or helping in some other way, for example design, construction, costume, backstage etc, please come along and find out what it’s all about. We would be very pleased to see you. As with the concert rehearsals, the venue is the Old Town Hall and we start at 7.30pm.

And as if this wasn’t enough to be getting on with, we also have in preparation our October production. As usual this will be a play, but it is a little different this year.

Called “The Men who Marched Away,” it is a commemoration of the end of the Great War in 1918 and a celebration of the part people from Crediton played in that war. More details on this to follow.

‘BAT OUT OF HELL’

Finally, another invitation for you. Last year we ran a day trip to London to see the very successful musical “Bat out of Hell”, which has opened for another season after a long run in Toronto.

The visit proved to be so enjoyable that we have been asked to run a similar trip this year. This will be on June 30 and there are a just few places left, so if you would like to join us it will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more details please email: [email protected] and we will send you full information about the day. The cost, which includes a London compliant coach with loo, plus very good seats for the show, is just £60 per person.

There will be time before and after the show for a bite to eat and a look around. If possible we also hope to include a backstage tour for those who are interested.

So there it is, “We Never Close” seems to be our motto, in common with a former, well-known, London theatre. We hope you will be able to support our forthcoming events or even join us in them. There’s lots more about us and a contact link on our website: www.codsonline.com .

But, for the moment, forgive us it we dwell for just a couple of days on “Witchfinder”. A truly special musical that we will all remember with great fondness for a long time to come. “Noblesse Oblige!”

Mike Palmer