Opera South East

Welcome to Opera South East

   Opera South East, based in Hastings, is one of the few companies in the south east regularly performing opera with full orchestra and chorus.
   We attract established singers and musicians as well as young professional performers at the start of their career.
   At its heart is a chorus of enthusiastic and friendly amateur singers under professional music and artistic direction.
   We welcome new members of all ages interested in any aspect of opera performance, be that on or off stage.

Join us...

“A Rollicking Romp” - Gilbert and Sullivan
is taking place over three consecutive evenings in September, at Winchelsea, Battle and Bexhill: -

Friday 20th September 2019, at 7pm
at St Thomas the Martyr, Winchelsea
Saturday 21st September 2019, at 7pm
Emmanuel Centre, Marley Lane, Battle
Sunday 22nd September 2019, at 7pm
Manor Barn, Bexhill

Tickets: £10 in advance; £12 on the door
Tickets available from:

Winchelsea Farm Kitchen
11-12 High Street Winchelsea, TN36 4EA 01797 226287
The Emmanuel Centre
Harrier Lane Battle, TN33 0FL 01424 777029
Second Spin
14 Sackville Road Bexhill on Sea, TN39 3JL 01424 210894
or from Gillian on 01424 425028

Not live page! Just notes

Rehearsal schedule (chorus rehearsals are for information for Principals):
Some 2017 chorus rehearsals to be in the evenings
Sun 15-Oct-17 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm/4pm-5pm
Sun 22-Oct-17 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm Nigel TBC
Sun 05-Nov-17 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm/4pm-5pm
Sun 19-Nov-17 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm - Nigel TBC
Sun 03-Dec-17 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm
Sun 10-Dec-17 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm
Sun 17-Dec-17 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm
Sun 07-Jan-18 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm - Nigel TBC
Sun 14-Jan-18 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm
Sun 21-Jan-18 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm
Sun 28-Jan-18 - Chorus-only music rehearsal - 2pm-3:45pm
Sun 04-Feb-18 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 11-Feb-18 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 18-Feb-18 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 25-Feb-18 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 04-Mar-18 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 11-Mar-18 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Weekday evening TBC - Chorus-only music rehearsals will be added
Sun 18-Mar-18 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm - Nigel TBC
Sun 25-Mar-18 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm - Nigel TBC
[Sun 01-Apr-18 - Easter Sunday]
Further Principal daytime /evening rehearsals TBC over next 3 weeks
Sun 08-Apr-18 - Orchestral rehearsal - morning
Sun 08-Apr-18 - Production rehearsal - 1pm-5pm
Sun 15-Apr-18 - Hell Sunday - 4pm-10pm
Mon 16-Apr-18 - Sitzprobe rehearsal - 7.15pm-10.15pm
Tue 17-Apr-18 - Technical rehearsal - 6pm-10:00pm
Wed 18-Apr-18 - Dress rehearsal 1 - 6pm-10:00pm
Thu 19-Apr-18 - Dress rehearsal 2 - 6pm-10:00pm
Fri 20-Apr-18 - Production night 1 - 6pm-10:30pm (7.30pm curtain-up)
Sat 21-Apr-18 - Production night 2 - 6pm-10:30pm (7.30pm curtain-up)

Sunday 6th December 2015 - OSE Carol Concert, St Clements Church, Swan Terrace/High Street, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3ES, starting at 6:30pm and lasting until approx 7:45pm.
An evening of seasonal music and carols with audience participation. Kenneth Roberts conducting, with Nigel Howard as organist. Featuring a children's choir from Claremont School, and the results of their musical carol composition competition with its premier performance by OSE on the night.
Tickets: priced at £8. Free entry for each accompanied under-16 year old. Available in advance from Imagen Gallery, 20 Claremont, Hastings or from the door on the night.

Past events can be found here, and we've also been performing at several private events, and provided choirs for weddings. New members of the choir are most welcome.

Concert rehearsals for OSE Concert in aid of HVRAB

This is an important concert for us as it effectively pays for our use of the Taplin Centre throughout the year for our rehearsals as it is our way of thanking Hastings & Rother Voluntary Association for the Blind :)

Tues 12th May rehearsal (Taplin Centre)
Tues 19th May rehearsal (Taplin Centre)
Sun 24th May 2.30pm rehearsal (Taplin Centre)
Mon June 1st rehearsal (Taplin Centre)
Sun 7th June 2.30pm rehearsal (Taplin Centre)
Sun 21st June 6.30pm rehearsal (Taplin Centre)

Thurs 25th June rehearsal (Taplin Centre)
Sun 28th June - Afternoon Rehearsal & Concert performance (St Clements Church)

Verdi's Il Trovatore by Opera South East!

Performances on Friday 24th & Saturday 25 April 2015
Auditions for principal roles on 14 December
Chorus music rehearsals start on Sun 25th January at 2:30pm - Please Join us!...

Please pass this news on!

Orpheus in the Underworld, 2012

Reviews

"Thank you for a memorable evening. The orchestra and production were outstanding, the staging and costumes very well thought out and so interesting to see elements of Kabuki on stage, wonderful principals..."
”“First class performances by all of the cast left us all tingling with emotion.” (Audience members – Madame Butterfly)
“one of the most engaging and satisfying performances of La Cenerentola that I have ever seen...” (Words and Music – La Cenerentola)
“a company that has esprit de corps and can deliver first class opera” (Hastings Observer – Don Giovanni)
“a resounding success...tumultuous applause, standing ovations” (Schwerte Zeitung – Macbeth)
“I’ve laughed so much I need to go home to change my pants.” (Audience member – Orpheus in the Underworld)

Selected past events

Orpheus in the Underworld, 2012

Poster for our latest production - Carmen, 2014

Forthcoming OSE events

Join us for our various upcoming events... and keep the dates free in your diary!

Sunday 7th December 2014 - 'Christmas is Coming' -
OSE Carol Concert, St Clements Church, Swan Terrace/High Street, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3ES, at 6pm for an evening of seasonal music and carols with audience participation. Kenneth Roberts conducting, with Nigel Howard as organist. In aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Seasonal refreshments available. Tickets at £8 (£7 for concessions) from either: -
- Imagen Gallery, 20 Claremont Street, Hastings, TN34 1HA, or
- Hastings Information Centre, Aquila House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3UY
Sunday 14 December 2014 - Auditions for Il Trovatore
Saturday 24 January 2015 - Holocaust Memorial Concert at St Mary in the Castle
Friday 24 April & Saturday 25 April 2015 - Il Trovatore performances at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings

2pm-3:30pm Sun 11th Jan - OSE Members meeting (upstairs at The Cinque Port Arms)
3:30pm Sun 11th Jan - Il Trovatore screening (Electric Palace Theatre)

Join our mailing list

If you would like to be kept up to date on forthcoming productions and events from OSE then please add (or remove) yourself from our performance mailing list here: