What's on in East Sussex - Hastings, Battle, Winchelsea and Bexhill...
Forthcoming OSE events

2022 plans

​Our next major opera production (fully-staged operetta)... 
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The Mikado - Gilbert & Sullivan - RESCHEDULED EVENT Event details below...

Audience comments from 8 April 2022

"I've seen the Mikado several times but I think this was the best for characterisation and character."

The Mikado

Our next major opera production 
The Mikado - Gilbert & Sullivan
Fri 8th Apr 2022 & Sat 9th Apr 2022
at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings at 7.30pm
​(New dates as postponed from 2020 to 2021 to 2022)
Directed by Denis Delahunt.  Fully staged, with the Sussex Concert Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Roberts

One of the most popular and humorous operas ever written, The Mikado is always a treat. It satirises Victorian British society, customs and pretensions through a farcical Gilbertian plot brimming with wit and sharp observation, all under the disguise of the Japanese Imperial Court of long ago.

In this topsy-turvy world, flirting is punishable by death, and KoKo, the hapless Lord High Executioner, has much on his mind, including trying to avoid his own decapitation!
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A tale of love and deception, with many memorable songs and plenty of opportunity to poke fun at 21st century Britain and its leading establishment and political figures. Who can we be thinking of? Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose!
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This will be a colourful production, with fabulous costumes and brilliant music.  A feast for the senses... what a great way to spend a Spring evening!​
Tickets: £21, £17, £13
  • White Rock Friends: £3 off
  • Groups 8+: £3 off (call WRT on 0343 310 0031 to buy fee-free)
  • Ask for one free under 16-year-old ticket with every adult ticket brought
  • Get our Benefactors package - two tickets for £60 with reception
​The White Rock Theatre Box Office is open now! 
There will be a pre-show talk from the Director 6pm on Saturday April 9th 2022. This is free and open to all ticket holders from both evenings and lasts about 20 minutes. 

​More information on our 2022 production of The Mikado is here...

Join our OSE Chorus as a new singing Member

Calling all New Chorus - Consider joining our Chorus line for rehearsals for our next concert or opera production - see Join our chorus and apply

Recent Operas - 2019 - La Traviata

Awarded 'Highly Commended' by NODA on 19 April 2020

Event by The Telling: Into the Melting Pot

A 'concertplay' of Stories & Music of 1492 Spain.
Sat, 30 July 2022 7:30pm-9:25pm
St Michael in Lewes
158 High Street
Lewes
BN7 1XU
Tickets and more info: https://itmp-lewes.eventbrite.co.uk/?aff=ose

OSE on BBC 4 tonight!

Monday 4 April - got a mention on BBC's The Unbelievable Truth - 2 mins 50 secs in!  OK, so it wasn't a 'truth' and was purportedly based in Southend, but fun nonetheless.  Did they know we have a production this weekend?
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Rehearsals for The Mikado are (again) in progress

Awards!

We are thrilled to announce today (19 April 2020) that OSE has today been awarded a Highly Commended accolade by NODA's South East Region (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) in the Best Opera category for 2019 performances for our production of La Traviata. Congratulations to the OSE cast of chorus, principals, the dancers, to Fraser Grant, Kenneth Roberts, to the Sussex Concert Orchestra, to the back-stage crew, and to all who have helped with admin and other support. Principals were Kristy Swift, Julia Bovee, Karen McInally, Harry Kersley, Arthur Coomber, Alexander S-Roberts, Oscar Smith, John Rycroft, David Woloszko, Jack Naismith, and Maya Godlonton-White.
The official NODA presentation is of course delayed due to the pandemic.
Well done all of you! 
We also won Best Opera for our 2018 production, Eugene Onegin
and won an Accolade of Musical Excellence for our 2015 Carmen.
Link for more info...

​The Magic Flute 2017

Past production - Eugene Onegin - 2018

2016 Macbeth Act 2 Finale after Banquo’s assassination, with ailing Macbeth and embarrassed dinner guests, photos courtesy of Mark Duncan

@OperaSouthEast With thanks to Glyndebourne for tweeting us

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Azucena and the Count Di Luna with the chorus of soldiers, Act 3 No.10 Scena and Terzetto, Il Trovatore, April 2015

Video Clip from Il Trovatore Sitzprobe with the SCO

​(by kind permission of members of the Sussex Concert Orchestra)
Mari Wyn Williams singing from Act IV of Il Trovatore with the Sussex Concert Orchestra - Monday 20th April.  Recorded on an iPhone without a proper mic but OK actually!  If the video picture is not buffering well then we suggest you download the video and play it locally for best results - free to download for non-commercial purposes (copyright OSE 2015)
Carmen, 2014 - Gemma Morsley (Carmen) and Barnaby Beer (Zuniga)
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H.M.S. Pinafore, 2011

Rent a Choir !

If you have a wedding or other event for which you'd like to hire a choir of say 15 then consider Opera South East.  A regular event would typically cost £500, plus £100 for an organist.  Contact our Chairman...
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Orpheus and Eurydice, 2009
With special thanks to The Sussex Concert Orchestra for your continued support of OSE
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Domain & email kindly provided by Laton Technical