Cranbrook Operatic and Dramatic Society (CODS) is an amateur theatre group that has been active in Cranbrook for almost 100 years. CODS exists to encourage the performance of all forms of good quality amateur theatre; musical, drama, and comedy. The society was founded in 1919 and its first production was the Mikado in 1920. The enthusiasm and talent continues today with CODS producing a variety of shows each year, including plays, revues, musicals and pantomimes.
The society regularly enters the Kent Drama Association Festival competition and has had success in many categories. CODS also boasts a lively social scene, including after-show meals, barbeques, walks, workshops, quiz nights, barn dances and theatre trips. CODS considers itself to be an integral part of the life of the Parish and we feel that it is imperative that we remain so. We are not an elitist group and welcome anybody from 5 – 95, who is interested in any aspect of the theatre. We are, for the most part, members of the Cranbrook community and have our day jobs as well as working on stage and backstage to provide live theatre for the locality.
Members take part as stage crew, costume designers and makers, set builders and painters, lighting and sound engineers, actors, dancers, singers, directors and front of house staff. CODS produce a Charity Pantomime every year, as well as a play in the Spring, a big Autumn Musical in October and a light-hearted production in the Summer months. All these are staged, not to make vast profits, but for the enjoyment of those involved and of the audiences as well.
Find out more by visiting our website at: https://www.cranbrookods.org.uk/, or our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/cranbrookods/.