ENCORE! Special show to re-open Jersey Opera House

Jersey Opera House is getting its own ENCORE!, a special show to mark its reopening this October following a £12m refit.

The theatre will reopen with a special home-coming production featuring 100  local aspiring and professional performers.

'ENCORE! Welcome Home' will run 3 to 5 October.

JOH is opening its doors again after a £12 million refit with a 'one-of-a-kind production' celebrating music, dance and storytelling devised and directed by Nick Carver, Victoria Hermitage, and Luke Brown.

It will include a gala choir of young islanders.

Theatre bosses say audiences of all generations are invited to “take a seat and be part of history”.

The Opera House has been closed since the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020.  It was not considered safe to reopen without a full restoration, which has been funded by government.

Other additions to the autumn programme just announced include:

An evening with music legend Gilbert O’Sullivan on Wednesday 17 December.

Best known for timeless hits including Alone Again (Naturally), Clair, and Nothing Rhymed, Gilbert will perform classics alongside tracks from his critically acclaimed 2022 album Driven, which reached the UK Top 30.

The Rat Pack at Christmas on Thursday 18 December.

Direct from the West End, the original London cast returns to Jersey with festive favourites like White Christmas, Baby It’s Cold Outside and Let It Snow, alongside timeless Rat Pack hits.

The Jersey Bounce Big Christmas Show on Saturday 20 December.

Jersey’s biggest and best show band returns to the Opera House stage after six years, joined by special guest Chesney Hawkes, for a glittering night packed with music, dancing, and festive fun.

These are in addition to shows previously revealed, including Nerina Pallot, Ocean Colour Scene, Su Pollard and Jasper Carrot and Rory Bremnar.

Productions booked in for 2026 include:

JOH Comedy Club — 29 January

A brand-new Comedy Club night featuring award-winning compere Sally-Anne Hayward and rising stars Tom Lawrinson and Michael Akadiri.

Thank You for the Music, The Ultimate Tribute to ABBA — 30–31 January

Get ready to dance, jive, and sing along to all ABBA’s greatest hits in this internationally acclaimed tribute show.

An Evening of Burlesque Cabaret — 13 and 14 February

A glamorous celebration of cabaret, comedy, and world-class burlesque artistry.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea — 28 and 29 March

The Olivier Award-nominated West End smash-hit returns, bringing Judith Kerr’s classic children’s tale to life in a magical, family-friendly production.