‘Urgent’ call to raise £1.5m for more upgrades to Opera House

Jersey Opera House is due to open later this year… but funding questions remain. Picture: DAVID FERGUSON. (39690054)

THE company slated to run the newly refurbished Jersey Opera House says it needs to raise another £1.5 million from the public after negotiations with the government over extra work on the building broke down.

In a statement, Jersey Opera House Ltd said that even after the £12.7m restoration of the building, technical upgrades were needed to ensure that it could operate as a fully-equipped theatre.

“Without these upgrades, we have a beautiful building, but the type of productions it can stage is severely limited, affecting local productions and reducing the scale and quality of events we can both present and bring to the Island,” the statement said.

“Modern staging and lighting equipment are essential for the Jersey Opera House to meet the standards of a mid-scale receiving theatre.”

It also said that the Opera House needed a new prompt desk, performance communication systems, and the supporting cabling infrastructure before it could become “the fully operational theatre we all wish for Jersey”.

“For the last 18 months we have worked with the Economic Development Department to find a way forward on the inclusion of these essential works, but a solution could not be found.”

The company’s comments come just days after anonymous sources told the JEP that negotiations between the government and the company over the lease had stalled. At a media event on 15 January, Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel said talks were “carrying on at the moment”.

Yesterday, another source told the JEP that negotiations over the lease were “at a stand-off”.

Deputy Morel also suggested on 15 January that differences remained about who would be responsible for maintenance and further upgrades of the building once Jersey Opera House Ltd took it over.

“We can invest more over time, or they can […]. If they want to invest in elements that enhance the Opera House, they’re very welcome to,” he said, adding that money was being set aside by Jersey Property Holdings to pay for any issues, but not clarifying how much or what for.

In its statement, Jersey Opera House Ltd said: “As a registered charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters and have taken the initiative to raise the required monies.

“We have already raised over £1m towards these improvements through philanthropic donation, and we seek to urgently raise a further £1.5m by the end of March to get this project over the line.

“This will enable us to open and sustainably operate as we mean to go on with a first-class experience for audiences and participants.

“Without this funding, the range and quality of performances we can host will be significantly limited, affecting both local and touring productions.”

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