Performing arts group writes to Chief Minister over Opera House concerns

The Performing Arts Development Group has written to Jersey's Chief Minister, concerned the Opera House refurbishment hasn't included technical upgrades, leaving the theatre 'unable to present high quality productions'.

The iconic Jersey landmark closed its doors during the Covid-19 pandemic but was unable to re-open due to a number of safety concerns. 

Since then, around £12 million has gone into restoring the building and bringing it up to standard. 

The money came from Economic Development budget.

  The theatre undergoing work in November 2024.

However, with the historic features of the building now restored, The Performing Arts Development Group is concerned that the space will not be able to 'operate to its full potential', as the funding did not include upgrading theatre tech. 

Theatre bosses revealed last month that they need to raise £1.5 million by the end of March for the equipment.

They - and local actors and musicians - worry that the refurbishment of the Opera House's aesthetics are redundant if the technology of the theatre cannot support productions in the space.

Channel 103 has seen a letter from The Chair of the Performing Arts Development Group, Tim Evans, to the Chief Minister.

In it, he says the group was 'led to believe' the refurbishment would upgrade the technical equipment in the theatre, most of which is over 25 years old and 'outdated'.

On behalf of the group, he has written:

Without an upgrade to the onstage and backstage sound, lighting and communication systems, the local companies would be unable to present any of the high-quality productions this Island has come to know and love.

...it needs to be able to operate to its full potential.

For visiting companies to bring shows from the UK, the Jersey Opera House would have to meet the standards of a mid-scale receiving theatre; similar to the Theatre Royal in Windsor, the Palace Theatre in Watford or the Liverpool Playhouse.

Tim Evans, said: "Back then, the technology was all analogue, and now its all digital so it all needs completely updating. At the moment the Opera House can't function at all.

"There's no sound system there now that is operable for today's world, and there's no lights. It just a very large room with an awful lot of seats.

"The Performing group were told that this (the technology) was all included within the build, and so far it's not been."

The theatre has previously made appeals to public to fill gaps in government funding.

Previously there has been similar worries over lighting and cabling not being covered by the Economic Development budget - 'reducing the scale and quality' of productions the theatre could accommodate.

At the time, Theatre Director Andy Eagle told Channel 103 they were appealing to the public for £1.5 million to make the theatre 'fully functional', and not 'limited'.