The Jersey Opera House has announce a community-driven initiative to locate the original sponsors of the theatre chairs, which were installed during its last major refurbishment in 2000.
These sponsors played a crucial role in helping bring Jersey’s historic theatre back to life at that time, and Jersey Opera House Limited (JOHL) wants to take this opportunity to honour and reconnect with them.
During the refurbishment 24 years ago, 625 chairs were placed in the auditorium, over 160 of which were sponsored by generous individuals and organisations. The JOHL team has gone through each chair to confirm the sponsors and remove the plaques. As they embark on the next phase of refurbishment, they want to acknowledge the support that helped shape JOHL’s legacy, and are calling on the community to contact them to confirm the original sponsors.
Why now?
The chairs that have been in the Opera House since 2000 are no longer fit for purpose and will not be returning to the auditorium. The original sponsorship covered the lifetime of those chairs, and the government will replace them as part of their ongoing commitment to ensuring the best experience for audiences. This campaign is JOHL’s way of ensuring that those who contributed to their past remain a celebrated part of their future.
“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,” said Andy Eagle, Interim Theatre Director of the Jersey Opera House.
“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.”
How the community can help
JOHL is inviting anyone who sponsored a chair—or knows someone who did—to get in touch with them. This is a unique moment to reconnect with the history of the theatre and the people who helped make it what it is today.
To honour the original donors, JOHL will be creating a special display featuring the plaques from the sponsored chairs. However, if the sponsors would prefer to keep their plaque as a personal keepsake or to remember a loved one, the Opera House would be happy to return it.
Next steps and looking forward
Jersey Opera House are in the process of planning the next steps of the auditorium refurbishment (main picture), and the installation of new seating will be a key part of enhancing the experience for all future audiences.
Their aim is to ensure, as part of this process, that those who contributed to the last refurbishment are not forgotten.
The Jersey Opera House has been shaped by the community, and this is a chance to celebrate that shared history.
