Winter 2023

EVENT NEWS
CODS’ Plans
for 2024
The Cranbrook Operatic and
Dramatic Society (CODS) is going
from strength to strength. Since
coming back into the theatre after
our enforced lockdown, we have
staged two classic British comedy
plays, The Vicar of Dibley and
Blackadder Goes Forth, as well as
the spectacular Priscilla Queen of
the Desert and a panto premiere –
Evermore.
After the success of Made in
Dagenham at the end of October
this year, CODS has exciting
plans for 2024. We have invited a
travelling troupe of players into
the Queen’s Hall Theatre for the
Christmas period and there will
be two showings of the family
pantomime The Adventures of
Treasure Island on Saturday 30
December at 2.30pm and 5.30pm.
Next year’s spring play, in
April, will be The Angry Twelve.
A modern take on the classic
1957 film Twelve Angry Men
starring Henry Fonda, the play
is as relevant today as it was 65
years ago. A dozen actors will be
on stage throughout, telling this
story of the human condition.
Auditions will take place at the
end of November, see our website
for details.
Our autumn show will be the
perfect night out for Halloween,
The Addams Family Musical,
which is based on the 60s
American classic TV series
and 90s films. The show is a
modern and fun-filled family
musical about the whacky and
spooky goings on in the Addams
household when Wednesday’s
boyfriend brings his parents to
meet the folks.
The show promises to be a great
evening’s entertainment and we
will hold auditions in the spring.
Watch the CODS Facebook page
or our website for details of shows
and auditions:
www.cranbrookods.org.uk
Sissinghurst Autumn Flower Show
Sissinghurst Church
Light Party
The Society’s Autumn
Flower Show was held on
Saturday 16 September in
the school hall. Despite
the unpredictable weather
of drought and heatwaves
during the preceding months,
causing produce to ripen
much later than usual, there
were still some good quality
entries in the vegetable and
fruit classes.
Flowers, however, were
very good and there was
a lovely varied selection.
Hydrangeas were particularly
colourful. Cookery classes
were popular, from the
traditional jar of jelly to the
chocolate fridge cake slices.
Floral Arrangement Classes
attracted some first-time
entrants who showed great
imagination. The Open
Classes for children for
painted pebbles, a stamp
designed for King Charles III
and the ever-popular shining
star biscuits were well
supported and made a lovely
display.
During the afternoon
we had a fair attendance
considering there were other
local events. It was a pleasure
to see so many people from
the village and further afield
meeting friends and generally
catching-up while enjoying
home-made tea and cakes.
Sissinghurst and Frittenden Church volunteers
pulled together for their first-ever Light Party,
giving a warm welcome to 45 brightly dressed
local primary school children, along with sisters
and brothers, mums and dads, grandparents –
some of whom also dressed up brightly…
For the first hour, the children enjoyed
choosing between biscuit decorating, making
their own lighthouse, face-painting and tattoos
(light-related or otherwise, our teenager helpers
were a dab hand!), and all the other light-themed
activities. A favourite was Pin the Leaf on the Pumpkin, with a nod to Halloween, which was the
following day.
Everyone then gathered together to sing and do the actions for ‘My Lighthouse’ by Rend
Collective, before Rev. Pete gave a short talk putting the spotlight on Jesus, Light of the World. All
those activities and singing and listening gave everyone a good appetite for the hot-dog party tea,
which we enjoyed before singing again.
The only thing left before heading
home was to collect their party bags
and thank all those who’d worked
so hard to make it happen… What a
brilliant opportunity for the Light to
shine into the darkness we start to
encounter this time of year!
LEFT FROM TOP: Floral arrangements on a theme of nursery
rhymes: ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ (left) and ‘Oranges and
Lemons’ (right); A selection of prize-winning vegetables;
‘Flowers from your garden’ competition
SEE MORE
Check out our church websites
for upcoming family friendly
services and events, or via
Facebook.
14 The Cake • Winter 2023