The Opus Theatre was founded by British-Argentine composer and concert pianist Polo Piatti and officially opened on 7 July 2017 in Hastings, in the United Kingdom.

The inaugural performance featured Gwyneth Herbert and Ned Cartwright and Harmony One Choir; live bands The Moors, Loose Ends, and Notes From Underground, poet Pete Donohue, pianist Mike Hatchard, organist Stephen Page and cellist Jonathan Bruce with many other performers.[1][2][3][4][5]

Since its opening the venue has staged diverse public events including classical concerts, theatre pieces, lectures, etc.[6][7][8][9] The venue's current artists in residence are the London Mozart Players, who opened their year of residence with a performance featuring BBC Young Musician winner (2018) Lauren Zhang [10][11][12][13][14] and flutist Daisy Noton. The venue's patron is Oliver Poole.[15] Performers appearing at the venue include Carly Paoli, Sunny Li, the London Mozart Players, the London Piano Trio, Nicholas McCarthy and many others.

The venue makes use of shared space in the Robertson Street United Reformed Church, where the horseshoe shaped auditorium provides excellent acoustics. Access to the theatre is via the entrance on Cambridge Road, Hastings, whilst the church utilises the lower entrance in Robertson Street. One of the outstanding features of the venue is the bespoke 9 foot Phoenix Opus grand piano, based upon a 1925 Blüthner Style XI piano body fitted with a carbon-fibre soundboard,[16] the instrument being donated by an anonymous benefactor in 2017 to the theatre.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "PICTURES: Theatre opens its doors after church transformation". www.hastingsobserver.co.uk.
  2. ^ "A busy year ahead for Hastings based composer and pianist Polo Piatti". www.hastingsobserver.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Opus: Classical music for everyone". hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Looking to the future as the theatres go dark". www.hastingsobserver.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Experienced singers wanted!". hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk.
  6. ^ "Russian born virtuoso cellist Nina Kotova to play at Opus Theatre in Hastings". www.hastingsobserver.co.uk.
  7. ^ "Gifted young musicians at London Mozart Players' launch event". www.hastingsobserver.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Argentine Tango, review: Opus Theatre, Saturday, September 7". www.hastingsobserver.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Libera Nos - Multi Faith Oratorio by Polo Piatti". Visit 1066 Country.
  10. ^ "London Mozart Players appointed Artists in Residence 2019/20 at Hastings' Opus Theatre – London Mozart Players". 8 October 2019.
  11. ^ Press, Hastings Independent (December 12, 2019). "London Mozart Players Kick Off Opus Theatre Residency In Triumphant Style".
  12. ^ Press, Hastings Independent. "Polo Piatti". Hastings Independent Press.
  13. ^ "Video". www.youtube.com. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  14. ^ "Full house for London Mozart Players at Hastings' Opus Theatre". www.hastingsobserver.co.uk.
  15. ^ "'Global Conversations' among musicians". hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk.
  16. ^ Phoenix to Build Piano For New Concert Hall – Phoenix Piano Systems Ltd – Carbiano – The Carbon Fibre Piano, accessdate: 24 May 2020
  17. ^ what the press says | Opus Theatre, accessdate: 24 May 2020
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