SPONSORED chairs that are “no longer fit for purpose” will not be used in the Jersey Opera House when it reopens after major refurbishment works.
During a previous upgrade in 2000, over 160 of the venue’s 625 chairs were sponsored by individuals and organisations, with the seats marked by plaques. This sponsorship covered “the lifetime” of the chairs, according to the Opera House.
Having been removed, the plaques will now form part of “a special display” – as the organisation plans its next steps.
Alternatively, anyone who sponsored a chair can keep their plaque as a personal keepsake by contacting the Opera House.
Interim theatre director Andy Eagle said: “We understand that many of you have fond memories of these chairs, and we want to make sure that the contributions made to the Jersey Opera House are recognised.
“While the chairs are being replaced, the legacy of those sponsorships lives on, and we want to acknowledge those who have supported us over the years.”
The Opera House has been closed since the start of the Covid pandemic and is currently undergoing a £12.7 million restoration which Mr Eagle previously described as “brilliant”.
But the restoration’s completion date has been pushed back several times and is now scheduled for autumn 2025.
Anyone who sponsored a chair should get in touch with the Opera House, the organisation added, to mark “a unique moment to reconnect with the history of our theatre and the people who helped make it what it is today”.
The Opera House can be contacted by calling 511110 or emailing admin@jerseyoperahouse.co.uk, or via social media.
