'Amazing' to reopen opera house on Liberation Day

James Mews is staging the Liberation concerts which will mark the reopening of the Opera House

People and organisations involved in the first shows at Jersey Opera House after a five-year, £13m restoration say they are excited to be involved.

James Mews, from Music in Action, which is staging two special concerts on Liberation Day, 9 May, said: "We feel the weight of history on our shoulders.

"It's so amazing for us to go on and be able to present a show to all those people who've been desperate to go back into that historic building."

He said Music in Action only knew last week that the venue was to reopen in May - four months ahead of a planned reopening in September.

Autumn programme

He said Music in Action had missed its home at the historic building and added Liberation Day "is the most appropriate day to be back in the opera house".

He said: "We had something that was absolutely brilliant to go on and we were just delighted that everyone's come together and agree that this will happen on Liberation Day."

The 650-seater venue has announced its autumn programme, which includes a show with actor and television personality Su Pollard, and an evening with comedians Jasper Carrott and Rory Bremner.

Paul Sharkey, from Island Music, said he was working with the Jersey Opera House to bring an evening with Simon Fowler and Oscar Harrison of Ocean Colour Scene in November.

The band's hits include The Circle and the Day We Caught the Train.

Mr Sharkey told BBC Radio Jersey: "It's really the jewel in Jersey's music venues.

"We really needed a bigger venue after they performed at The Drift [festival].

"Simon and Oscar vowed they would return here to the opera house."

He said sales were already going well and it was hoped to add a second night at the iconic venue.