CODA (Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association)
Encyclopedia
CODA is the Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association. An amateur dramatics company and registered charity number 290743, CODA was founded founded in 1943. Since then they have produced over 130 musicals and over 30 drama productions.
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.
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
.
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.
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.
In the last 67 years the group has performed throughout Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
at such venues as the Grand Theatre and Opera House (Croydon), Stanley Halls (South Norwood), Selsdon Halls (Selsdon), Braithwaite Hall (Croydon Clocktower
Croydon Clocktower
Croydon Clocktower on Katharine Street in Croydon is an arts centre in London, England. It contains the Museum of Croydon, the Riesco Gallery with a collection of Chinese pottery and ceramics, the David Lean Cinema, the Braithwaite Hall used for concerts and conferences, and a café and bar...
), The Ashcroft Theatre
Ashcroft Theatre
The Ashcroft Theatre is a theatre located within the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, South London. The theatre was named after Croydon-born Dame Peggy Ashcroft and is a proscenium theatre with a stepped auditorium. The mural on its fire curtain is by the artist Henry Bird. A variety of productions are...
and the Fairfield Halls Concert Hall
Fairfield Halls
Fairfield Hall is an arts centre in Croydon, London, England and opened in 1962. It contains a concert hall, the Ashcroft Theatre , the Arnhem Gallery civic hall and an art gallery....
.
Company History
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
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
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!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
. 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
Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon. It is based on Federico Fellini's screenplay for Nights of Cabiria...
, Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
and Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
.
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
Nigel Harman
Nigel Derek Harman is an English actor, most famous for his role as Dennis Rickman in the UK soap opera EastEnders. He has worked extensively in theatre, with the stage being described as his "first love"...
. 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.
Drama Productions
| 2000s | 1990s | 1980s |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Abigail's Party 2011 The Graduate 2010 Noises Off 2010 And Then There Were None 2009 Run For Your Wife 2008 Talking Heads 2007 A Streetcar Named Desire 2006 Allo Allo 2004 California Suite 2002 Vamps & Villains 2002 The Miracle Worker 2001 A Little Hotel on the Side 2000 A Chorus of Disapproval 2000 Twelve Angry Men 2000 Bazaar and Rummage |
1999 The Crucible 1998 Gilbert 1998 A Voyage Around My Father 1997 The Importance of Not Being Gilbert 1997 Shirley Valentine 1996 Catherine Howard 1995 Hayfever 1995 The Birthing Room 1994 A View From The Bridge 1994 Hobson's Choice 1993 The Government Inspector 1993 Play it Again Sam 1992 Pack of Lies 1992 Lord Arthur Saville's Crime 1991 Stags & Hens 1991 The Real Inspector Hound 1990 Flarepath 1990 Cider With Rosie |
1989 Billy Liar |
Musical Productions
| 1990–Present | 1960-1980 | 1943-1959 |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Disney's Beauty and the Beast 2009 Little Shop of Horrors 2009 Oklahoma 2008 Sweeney Todd 2008 Copacabana 2007 Crazy For You 2007 Seussical 2006 Chess 2005 My Fair Lady 2005 Encore! 2004 Calamity Jane 2003 Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! 2003 Jesus Christ Superstar 2002 Anything Goes 2002 A Grand Night for Singing 2001 The Mikado 2001 The Boyfriend 2000 State Fair 2000 Mack and Mabel 1999 Starship Pina4 1999 Oliver! 1998 A Christmas Carol 1998 Guys and Dolls 1998 Salad Days 1997 The King and I 1997 Me and My Girl 1996 Broadway to Hollywood and Back 1996 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 1995 Bugsy Malone 1995 Carousel 1994 Chess 1993 The Gondoliers 1993 Oklahoma! 1992 Poppy 1992 Best Little Whorehouse in Texas 1991 Hello Dolly 1991 Idol Days 1990 Grease 1990 The Merry Widow |
1989 Half a Sixpence 1989 The Mikado 1988 Sweet Charity 1988 Sweeney Todd 1987 Irene 1987 Kiss Me Kate 1986 Underneath the Arches 1986 The Boyfriend 1985 The Pirates of Penzance 1985 Annie 1984 Mame 1984 Chicago 1983 Patience 1983 Me and My Girl 1982 Oliver! 1982 Fiddler on the Roof 1981 Glamorous Night 1981 The Gondoliers 1980 South Pacific 1980 Waltzes from Vienna 1979 The Mikado 1979 Guys and Dolls 1978 Pirates of Penazance/Trial by Jury 1978 White Horse Inn 1977 Oklahoma! 1977 The Sound of Music 1976 The Yeomen of the Guard 1976 La Vie Parisienne 1975 Iolanthe1975 The Merry Widow 1974 The Gondoliers 1974 Carousel 1973 Ruddigore 1973 Rose Marie 1972 Kismet 1972 The Mikado 1971 Young Tom 1972 Kismet 1972 The Mikado 1971 Young Tom 1971 Showboat 1970 Orpheus of the Underworld 1970 The Yeomen of the Guard 1969 Bitter Sweet 1969 La Belle Helene 1968 Lilac Time 1968 The Pirates of Penzance 1968 Trial by Jury 1967 Merrie England 1967 The Merry Widow 1966 White Horse Inn 1966 Iolanthe 1965 Die Fledermaus 1965 The Gondoliers 1964 The Gypsy Baron 1964 Song of Norway 1963 King's Rhapsody 1963 The Mikado 1962 The New Moon 1962 The Desert S 1961 Lilac Time 1961 Ruddigore 1960 White Horse Inn 1960 The Gondoliers |
1959 Carmen 1959 Pirates of Penzance 1959 Trial by Jury 1958 The Mikado 1957 Pink Champagne 1957 The Yeomen of the Guard 1956 Iolanthe 1956 Ruddigore 1955 Bless the Bride 1955 The Gondoliers 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Trial by Jury/HMS Pinafore 1953 The Quaker Girl 1952 Iolanthe 1951 The Yeomen of the Guard 1951 Pirates of Penzance 1951 The Gondoliers 1950 The Sorcerer 1950 Cox and Box 1950 The Rebel Maid 1949 The Mikado 1949 the Vagabond King 1949 Cox and Box/HMS Pinafore 1948 Ruddigore 1948 Merrie England 1948 Iolanthe 1947 The Gondoliers 1947 The Geisha 1946 The Yeomen of the Guard 1946 The Rebel Maid 1946 Pirates of Penzance 1945 The Mikado 1945 The Vagabond King 1944 Tonight at 8.30 1944 The Gondoliers 1943 Merrie England |