CODA is the Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association. An amateur dramatics company and registered charity number 290743[1], CODA was founded founded in 1943. Since then they have produced over 130 musicals and over 30 drama productions.[2] Their charitable objects are:
1. TO ADVANCE THE PUBLIC EDUCATION BY CULTIVATING THE DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL ARTS AND TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC TASTE IN THOSE ARTS.
2. TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTION OF DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL WORKS HAVING AN EDUCATIVE VALUE IN FURTHERANCE OF OBJECT 1.[3] In the last 67 years the group has performed throughout Croydon at such venues as the Grand Theatre and Opera House (Croydon), Stanley Halls (South Norwood), Selsdon Halls (Selsdon), Braithwaite Hall (Croydon Clocktower), The Ashcroft Theatre and the Fairfield Halls Concert Hall.
Contents |
Born in 1943, the offspring of the long-established Croydon Light Operatic, CODA's first production was Merrie England, performed at the local Grand Theatre and Opera House.
For most of its formative years, the society followed fashion and put on the likes of The Geisha, The Quaker Girl, The Vagabond King and The Rebel Maid, with a healthy sprinkling from the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire.
In fact, over the six decades of its existence, Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association, to give it its full title, has put on The Gondoliers and The Mikado no fewer than nine times each. Old favourites such as White Horse Inn and Rose Marie have come and gone.
In 1962 CODA was privileged to be the first amateur company to perform in the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon which boasted stage facilities at that time not surpassed anywhere in London – the company's production was The New Moon. Many popular shows including King's Rhapsody and La Belle Helene followed.
Then, in November 1971, there was something of a coup for the society . . . CODA staged the premiere of a show called Young Tom, which was to earn a place in West End theatre history. The book was co-written by a lady by the name of Joan Maitland, who was the secretary to Lionel Bart. He didn't pen the music, however; Chris Andrews, who had written several top ten hits, did the honours. The show, based on Tom Brown's Schooldays, generated a great deal of publicity. A vast company of 73 was led by the only non-local: Tom himself was recruited from North London.
In May the following year, much altered and now called Tom Brown's Schooldays, the show opened at London's Cambridge Theatre. It was directed by Peter Coe, who also directed Oliver!. This production ran for 76 performances. During its short run, Roy Dotrice played the main character, Dr Arnold and, among the youngsters cast as schoolboys were Simon Le Bon and Keith Chegwin.
As musical tastes changed, CODA kept up, switching from mainly operetta to more modern musicals such as Sweet Charity, Grease and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Now, up with the trends as ever, CODA can even boast its very own nationally famous (and highly topical) soap star . . . When the company put on a production of Oliver! in 1982, taking the lead was a stripling of a lad called Nigel Harman. These days, he is better known for his role as Dennis, son of Dirty Den in Eastenders. Nigel's father, Del, is also a past member and has directed several CODA shows.
| 2000s | 1990s | 1980s |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Abigail's Party
2011 The Graduate |
1999 The Crucible
1998 Gilbert |
1989 Billy Liar |
| 1990–Present | 1960-1980 | 1943-1959 |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Disney's Beauty and the Beast
2009 Little Shop of Horrors |
1989 Half a Sixpence
1989 The Mikado |
1959 Carmen
1959 Pirates of Penzance |