Held in the Tide: A brand new opera for and by Jersey

ArtHouse Jersey has announced the principal cast and musicians for Held in the Tide, a brand-new opera created in and for Jersey, which premieres at the Jersey
Opera House on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

Lasting just one hour, this powerful new work places local voices, stories, and talent at the heart of the stage. With tickets selling quickly, audiences are encouraged to book now!

Held in the Tide is an ambitious new opera rooted in Jersey, performed entirely by artists who are from the Island or resident here. A total of 32 performers will take to the stage, including three professional singers, four musicians and a 25-strong community chorus including five supporting cast, creating a powerful blend of professional excellence and community participation. Behind the scenes, a creative team of six, four specialist collaborators, and eight community collaborators through Raise Your Voice, Jersey! have helped shape the work, alongside twenty more Islanders engaged through its development. Together, they represent a remarkable collective effort in bringing this world-premiere opera to life. The cast and chorus are now in rehearsals, with the production taking shape in the lead-up to its premiere at the Jersey Opera House.

Producer at ArtHouse Jersey, Robyn Cabaret, said: “Held in the Tide feels particularly significant because of the scale of collaboration behind it. Since mid-January, our community chorus has been working closely with the creative team to learn the score and shape the world of the opera. As they now begin rehearsing alongside our professional cast and musicians, the energy and commitment in the room are palpable. This is an ambitious new work, created and performed entirely by artists with deep connections to our Island. With just four weeks until the World Premiere, there’s a sense of momentum building, and we’re incredibly proud to be bringing a production of this calibre to the Jersey Opera House.”

Programme Manager at the Jersey Opera House, Rebecca Stanier, said: “Partnering with ArtHouse on this unique production, with an entirely local/jersey-based cast is such a special project. We cannot wait for them to arrive at the Opera House and begin production week, illuminating our stage with this brilliant original, local story”.

The opera tells an original story rooted in home, created through the meeting of local talent and international experience, and reflects ArtHouse Jersey’s commitment to nurturing ambitious, home-grown work and creating opportunities for Island artists to shine on a major stage.