INDUSTRIAL action hit the Welsh National Opera (WNO) on Saturday night outside the theatre and on stage as Equity members protested at the opening night of Rigoletto.

The 30-strong chorus are Equity members and their protest against reduced hours, redundancies and pay cuts was joined by orchestra members.

Chorus members led a protest outside Cardiff’s Millennium Centre before the opening night of Verdi’s opera handing out leaflets to concertgoers and getting a petition signed.

The action entered the concert hall as orchestra members wore “Save our WNO” T-shirts during the performance and chorus members donned the shirts for the curtain call.

The orchestra are Musicians Union members who have also voted for strike action over the cuts.

The cost-cutting measures have been taken after WNO’s funding was slashed by the Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council England.

Equity members paused their first and second days of strike action after productive discussions with WNO management last week, but the union has warned that full strike action will go ahead as planned on October 11.