London Mozart Players at Opus Theatre before water ingress caused its closure. It is now ready to reopen its doors.

Free concert as Opus Theatre reopens on Saturday

Come along and celebrate the reopening of the Opus Theatre in His Place community church at a free concert on Saturday, with a diverse programme of musical entertainment arranged by founder, director and composer Polo Piatti. Nick Terdre reports.

Opus Theatre, one of Hastings’ foremost venues for music, throws its doors open for a free concert at 4pm on Saturday 12 March after a lengthy closure due to damage caused by water ingress.

The event is part of a heritage open day at His Place to allow the public to explore the Victorian building, see the extensive damage caused to the fabric by wind and salt erosion over the years, and hear about the repair project which was recently kickstarted by a grant of £20,000 from Historic England.

Repairs to the auditorium, which is shared by the church and the theatre, have been completed, allowing it to be used again for public events.

The Phoenix Opus grand piano.

Piatti has assembled a diverse array of artists, mainly musicians, who are due to play two works each, though even he does not know what most of them are planning.  But featuring prominently will be the venue’s unique grand piano, the Phoenix Opus, with its carbon fibre soundboard.

Best known of the artists, internationally as well as at home, is Hastings’ own jazz queen Liane Carroll, who when not playing at Ronnie Scott’s and other leading venues, is often to be seen and heard supporting local good causes. Also on the bill are:

• Pianist Oliver Poole, who as the Opus artist in residence has enjoyed a long relationship with the theatre;
• Hastings Sinfonia Wind Quartet, formed from members of the eponymous orchestra, who will be making their first public performance;
• Local flautist Daisy Noton who performed her first solo recital at Opus Theatre in 2018;
• Pianist Paul Lewis and harpist Sharon Elizabeth who will duet together;
• 

  From left, Polo Piatti, Daisy Noton and Oliver Poole, who will all be playing on Saturday.

  Soprano Anne Rebecca Højlund accompanied by pianist Francis Rayner, a stalwart of Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra;

• Leia Watts, a young singer/songwriter who has been invited to perform after impressing Piatti;
• Thomas Dan Li, a young violin prodigy from Eton who has performed the composer’s music;
• Local musician Blair;
• Jazz singer and instrumentalist Earl Okin, still going strong after recently celebrating his 75^th birthday.

Piatti himself will play a couple of pieces, a tango (he is part Argentine) and a piece of improvisation. Together with Jonathan Bruce, a cellist from Hastings Sinfonia, he will also play his own composition Lullaby for a Clown.

And, in a break from music, dancer Yumino Seki will give a silent, solo performance inspired by Butoh, an avant garde Japanese dance form.

Opus Theatre, Cambridge Road entrance.

The concert will be compered by Piatti and local film-maker Glenn Veness, and will include a break for Katherine Prior, who is in charge of fund-raising for His Place, to say a few words about the major upcoming repair project.

Though the concert is free, donations will be welcomed. The open day and concert are an opportunity for the local community to show their support for His Place as it prepares the major funding bid needed to finance the repair programme.

His Place Heritage Open Day Saturday 12 March, 11am-6pm, Robertson Street, Hastings TN34 1HL. Entrance also on Cambridge Road. Free concert in the auditorium at 4pm. Guided tours of the building at 12.30 and 2.30pm. Tea and refreshments will be served in the cafe from 2 to 4pm.

Also in: Music & Sound