Busking in Croydon - the update As some members will be aware, Croydon BID (the business development side of the Council) have asked us to be hosts of what they envision as being ‘Croydon’s Got Talent’ - a way of getting live performance in the centre of Croydon that would be organised by us. We met with representatives from Croydon BID, the idea was proposed, and I suggested we booked for Easter weekend and this coming weekend.   However, despite having arranged a feature in the Croydon Advertiser (it’s in this week’s Croydon edition on page 4, including a dodgy picture of Morven, Peter D and myself), teased the OTMH team into coming along on Saturday, hired the stage/trailer from Radio Marsden and organised banners for the display and leaflets to distribute, the Council told me yesterday that we can’t do it because the application went in too late ... despite the fact that they sent me the paperwork too late in the first place. So, unfortunately we WON’T be performing on Saturday.  However there is a Plan B ... I would appreciate it if as many of us as were intending to attend STILL turn up on Saturday DRESSED IN THE GEAR and we hand out leaflets advertising the OTMH and RFYW shows and forward advertising to a later date when we WILL perform live in North End. Meet outside JJB Sports by the Whitgift Centre entrance in North End, Croydon between 11am and 3pm. This has REALLY not been fun but I want to make the most of this last opportunity to promote the Old Time Music Hall shows so all I ask is that you give me some enthusiastic support and come along on the day if only to hand out leaflets. Nick   Croydon's got talent If you have a burning desire to get up on stage to sing, juggle, unicycle … or even attempt to beat the world record for eating the largest number of Ferrero Rochet chocolates in one minute, then get in contact with CODA and we could make you a star … at least in the eyes of Croydon shoppers ! CODA, the theatre company famed locally for presenting comedy, drama and musical shows at the Ashcroft Theatre and other venues in the area, have been invited by Croydon Council’s Town Centre Operations department to present a series of live performances in North End during Saturday’s peak shopping hours which would include a feature called ‘Open Stage’ . The idea is similar to the ‘open mike’ sessions popular in comedy clubs, whereby the only criteria for surviving the two or three minutes you would be allocated is that you don’t get the ‘thumbs down’ from the hundreds of passing shoppers. No matter what your particular gift for entertainment happens to be, organiser Nick Miller, who is also CODA’s Publicity Manager, is happy to give you the opportunity to show off your talents (or lack thereof) … provided you don’t offend a family audience. The first of these events was due to take place this coming Saturday 18 th April but the Council could not issue the performance licence in time ! However, we intend to be there on a regular basis with dates to be announced soon. In the process, the company will be showcasing its own talents by performing songs and excerpts from its own forthcoming productions. These include Old Time Music Hall performances at the Old Palace of John Whitgift Junior School in Croham Road on Friday 24 th and Saturday 25 th April, and Ray Cooney’s classic comedy ‘Run for your Wife’ at the Ashcroft Theatre from Wednesday 20 th to Saturday 23 rd of May. CODA, a registered charity in itself, is presenting these events in conjunction with Radio Marsden’s radio station which this year celebrates it’s 40 th anniversary. If you think you have what it takes to take to the live outdoor stage this coming weekend, or you are interested in booking tickets for a CODA show (or even joining the company) you can contact us at info@codashows.co.uk.