IT’S been a while since your CODS reporter has darkened the door of the Crediton Courier office. In fact looking back, we haven’t published any updates since our Easter production of Witchfinder.

Behind the scenes though a great deal has been happening.

The last night of Witchfinder was April 14 and the following Wednesday we were at it again, this being the first rehearsal for our popular September Evenings.

The theme for these two concert/cabaret evenings was Pick and Mix which gave us quite a choice of music, though we did refine it to music related to the letters C, O, D or S.

Both nights were sold out nearly six weeks before the two shows as these evenings have become so popular. You couldn’t even get a seat on Ticketmaster!

It’s one of the times when being a Friend of CODS is really useful. They were the first to know and snapped up all the tables!

So a big thank you to our Friends, and sponsors Devondale and Lewis’s, for such great support.

Overlapping these rehearsals the play for October was also in preparation.

This was a change from our initial selection for this year and the final decision was made rather later than usual. BUT the company have really come up with a “real belter”, to use a technical theatrical term!

Written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman A Bunch of Amateurs is a very funny comedy. Initially a British Comedy film it had its premier in Leicester Square in 2008.

Principal guest for the first night was none other than the Queen! Though the film was not so successful, the play has had much approval from its audiences in live theatre.

We will shed more light on this production in our next update, but for now just let your imagination run with these thoughts.

A fading Hollywood star, a place called Stratford and the Bard’s famous play “King Lear”. The show runs from Wednesday, October 24 to Saturday, October 27. More anon ...

Our Musical for next Easter is the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Carousel. We will write lots more about this lovely show in due course, but there is one important date for anyone who would like to join us for this production.

The first rehearsal will be on Wednesday, October 31 at 7.30pm, in the Old Town Hall. If you would like to sing and dance, portray a character or even be one of the army of backstage and/or front of house supporters, please come and join us to find out more.

Finally for this update on CODS activities is the presentation of a cheque for our chosen charity for 2017/18. CODS select a charity each year and have a bucket collection at our various productions. This year the charity was Clyst Ward Acute Stroke Unit at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Clyst Ward has recently used previous fundraising to convert an unused bathroom into a small relatives room - a quiet and private space where staff can talk to relatives, and where relatives of very sick patients can go for privacy and rest.

The donation from CODS has purchased some furniture, including a reclining chair that can be used as a temporary bed, as well as some tranquil art work.

Nicki tells us that having a quiet space off the ward can make a tremendous difference to relatives, especially when they are trying to cope with the shock of bad news, or sitting with a patient who is nearing the end of life.

The addition of the furniture and art work has made the space more personal and relaxing. CODS were very pleased to support this worthy cause.

Our charity for 2018/19 is the Crediton and District Playscheme for children with special needs. We hope you will feel able to help this worthy cause as you leave each of this year’s productions.

Look out for more about A Bunch of Amateurs in our next report. As already mentioned the show runs from October 24 to 27, 7.30pm at QE Upper School Drama Hall (Western Road).

The tickets are now on sale via the CODS website: www.codsonline.com or from Olivia James in the High Street, telephone 01363 777968.

Mike Palmer