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Images of a gala performance by the London City Ballet at the Opera House featuring performances by Marian St Claire, Michael Beare, Donald Macleary, Linda Smit, Simon Laing, Ursula Hageli, Nigel Burgoine and Karen Smith.

Reference: L/A/75/A3/6/7407

Photographer: Peter Mourant

JEP Photographic Job Number: 1981/7407.

Date: 4 May 1981

Images of Francine Holden, aged 12, dancing with members of the London City Ballet during one of their rehearsals at the Opera House as part of the We Can Fix It series for the Junior Club. Images U to W show Francine in the centre with principal dancer Marian St Claire on the left, Karen Smith at the back and Avril Hurwitz kneeling [from 16/05/1981 This Weekend supplement p VI].

Reference: L/A/75/A3/6/7411

Photographer: Gary Grimshaw

JEP Photographic Job Number: 1981/7411.

Date: 5 May 1981

Images taken for an article on Marian St Claire and Anne Allan, two members of the London City Ballet on tour in Jersey for performances at the Opera House, appearing in the Mainly Feminine feature. Includes images of Marian St Claire at the Fairholme Guest House on Roseville Street [A-D] and Anne Allan with her husband Pete and daughter Emily [E-N] and doing ballet poses [O-Q] along the promenade at Havre des Pas [from JEP 15/05/1981 p 28-29].

Reference: L/A/75/A3/6/7438

Photographer: Gary Grimshaw

JEP Photographic Job Number: 1981/7438.

Date: 8 May 1981

Flyer advertising two weeks of entertainment at the Jersey Opera House, featuring three programmes performed across six days by the London City Ballet in the first performance in Jersey, and six nights of entertainment featuring female impersonation artists George Logan and Patrick Fyffe as Hinge and Bracket in a production entitled Stackton Tressel Favourites.

Reference: L/F/445/C/2/4

Date: 4 May 1981 - 17 May 1981

Programme advertising ten months of entertainment being held at the Jersey Opera House throughout 1981.

Reference: L/F/445/C/3/7

Date: 8 March 1981 - 31 December 1981

Programme advertising eleven months of entertainment being held at the Jersey Opera House throughout 1982. The programme contains information on how to book tickets for shows and performances, and provides a list of restaurants near the Jersey Opera House.

Reference: L/F/445/C/3/10

Date: 13 February 1982 - 31 December 1982

Personal View of Dick Ray interviewed by Geraldine des Forges. He was born in London in 1935. Had a happy childhood-has memories from when the second world war started. His father wanted to get out of London and went to the railway station and asked for 4 tickets to anywhere and they ended up in Worthing. A bomb was dropped on Worthing-remembers an explosion and being covered in blood-they then left Worthing and went to Reading where he completed his school life. They moved back to London in 1950 when he was 15. London was getting back on its feet after the war-started getting his interests in theatre at this time. His father had touring shows around the country at this time-he was on the stage all his life-his father remembered going to the public houses as a small boy and reciting poetry to make money. His father later went in to production. He enjoyed going in to production-was a much better thing for him to do than being on the stage. Peter Sellers was related to him-he was 10 years older than him-remembers him taking him out in the pram. They moved in opposite Peter Sellers when he was trying to get the Goon Show off the ground. He was a large character. He was very generous but could be pensive and serious. Always knew he was going to go into the theatre. Got into the theatre through dancing. All the Hollywood stars were versatile-they could sing, dance and act-it's not the same anymore. First Record-Peter Sellers sings George Gershwin. In 1957 Harry Swanson invited him over to produce a show at the Watersplash. In the winter of 1957 Harry Swanson invited him to become manager of the Watersplash and he moved over and stayed ever since. Shows that are put on now are similar to those he put on then. Produced the floor show at the Watersplash as if it was a stage show. Stayed at the Watersplash until 1966. The audience has changed especially in the last couple of years-people don't stay as long any more-there used to be at least 10 shows on the island at a time and people used to go and see a couple of shows whilst they were visiting. He invented touring shows in Jersey which really took off. People now come for shorter holidays and don't see as many shows. Jersey was a good stepping stone for famous entertainers. Second Record-Shirley MacLaine with If My Friends Could See Me Now. His wife was in show business-she was in the first show at the Watersplash. Harry Swanson was looking for a singer and his wife was booked and then he was asked to produce the show. His children Rachel and Daniel Ray work at Caesar's Palace. Tommy Swanson bought the Opera House which was a cinema in 1958/59 and opened it in the early 60s after renovation work. In 1963-1966 he produced shows at the Opera House. Ray Cooney approached the Swansons to lease the theatre to put on plays-he eventually moved away from Jersey and his manager Alan Tredgitt took over the Opera House. When he died in 1976 he was given a seasonal lease for the Opera House. It was a successful time for the theatre. In 1980 he was given a long lease and he ran it all the time. At this time he guaranteed the amateur dramatics community that they could still use the theatre. The theatre is almost constantly in use. There is a high amount of talent in the island and with the advent of the Jersey Arts Centre and the increase in productions of Fort Regent. He thinks that the Opera House is unique and beautiful-just the right size. It takes time for a theatre to get a character like the Opera House. It is expensive to keep running the theatre-the States have been helpful-a loan was made for £200,000 for immediate repairs. If he could choose any people in the world to sing he would bring over Kiri Te Kanawa, Placido Domingo or Luciano Pavarotti but it would cost a great deal of money. London City Ballet would be good to bring over. He likes the traditional ballet better than modern. Enjoys the modern musicals in London-Andrew Lloyd-Webber changed the face of musicals. Third Record-The Bolshoi Ballet playing Carmen by Bizet. There is a lot to do in Jersey-if shows aren't advertised in advance people don't come. Is putting cabaret on at Caesar's Palace-is having a continental night at the Caesar's Palace on Tuesdays. Likes to encourage Jersey talent. Is doing shows in the West End-the Rank Organisation contacted him to put on some shows in London that they sell to travel companies. Is making changes to the shows-has brought in stage managers and a choreographer. When people have talent you recognise it instantly. Fourth Record-Tiger Rag with Louis Primer and Keeley Smith. Enjoys working for the Variety Club of Jersey-many different fundraising events taking place. Is amazed by the generosity of the public. Has started working on the refurbishment of the theatre but the theatre will remain open. End of Recording.

Reference: R/07/B/15

Date: 31 May 1992

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