The curtain has fallen on yet another Opera House board member, with a fresh resignation confirmed today.
Interim Chair Cyril Whelan stepped away earlier this week, after 13 years on the board and less than eight weeks in the top post.
That followed the resignations of his predecessor Dave Chalk and interim director Andy Eagle in April, just weeks before the venue was due to reopen for Liberation Day.
But today Express can reveal that Bruno Santos-Costa has become the fourth individual in three months to step away from a senior role at the historic theatre.
Mr Santos-Costa, who owns The Watchmaker wine bar, was recruited as one of five new non-executive directors in October 2023.
He said although his leave comes at a “suspect time”, he was stepping away to focus on raising his 11-month-old child and preparing to open a new eatery in the Central Market.
“The Opera House is a project I greatly care about, but I just don’t have time,” he said.
Commenting on the diminishing size of the theatre’s board – which has halved in less than 12 months – Mr Santos-Costa added: “it’s still great hands and [the theatre] will get there”.
“It’s a great building and I want to see it succeed.”
Jersey Opera House Limited has confirmed on its website that Laura Robertson, a former non-executive director has been appointed as interim-chair, with Ryan Williams as vice-chair.
Former Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore is currently the only other non-executive director now on the board.
A consultant has been recruited to direct the theatre’s management following Mr Eagle’s departure – the costs of which have not been made public.
Jersey Opera House Limited confirmed that a recruitment process to find a CEO is “about to get underway”.
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