Opera House reopens with Encore! performance

Final preparations are happening at Jersey's Opera House before the doors open again this evening (3 October) to welcome regular audiences after a five year shutdown.

The theatre's grand reopening will feature a hundred performers joining for a special homecoming show, perfectly named 'Encore! Welcome Home.'

The 125 year old venue has been shut since the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.  Structural safety concerns meant it could not reopen.

It has since undergone a near £13 million publicly-funded refurbishment.

Construction worked finished last Christmas, but the theatre's reopening was delayed until now, except for a performance in May to mark the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day. 

The auditorium has been fully restored, seating replaced and the iconic chandelier retained.

Fundraising continues to replace technical equipment 

READ: 'Urgent’ £1.5m appeal to complete Jersey Opera House upgrade

Curtain goes up with a three-night run of 'Encore', created to celebrate a new era of the historic venue.

Director Nick Carver can't wait for an audience to see it:

"It tells about the Opera House reopening, the love for the theatre that people who have performed there over the years have, and about giving it over the next generation - the people who are going to use and love it in the future.  And then we give a real showcase of what amazing talent we have in the island." 

There is a cast of more than 100, with the youngest just 8 years old.  A children's choir was put together especially for the show.

There are also seasoned local performers and some professionals returning to the island who are working in the UK.

Performing arts genres represented include contemporary dance, ballet, musical theatre, jazz, opera and pop.

Nick told Channel 103:

"It has been wonderful to walk back through those doors again, stand on that stage and look out into the auditorium.

"It has been five long years.  Whether you are a patron or a performer, it is very special to have it back again."

A view of the stage from above, taken as work was nearing completion 12 months ago.

Rebecca Stanier, the theatre's programme manager,  has been working on the autumn line-up for the past 18 months.

She admits there will be a challenge to get people back into the habit of coming to see a show.

"It is very interesting to see what sells very quickly and what needs a bit more of a push to encourage people to come back in.

"I think it would be fair to say, after five years, we are not really sure what our audiences are excited for.

"Things like Gilbert O'Sullivan and Rory Bremnar and Jasper Carrot have sold out really quickly.

"The aim was to have something for everyone.

"I just hope that people really enjoy themselves, have that magic feeling that you get when you walk into an auditorium and when there is people on stage bringing it to life.  I hope that everyone is excited as we are to see it open."

You can see what's on at the Opera House here.