At curtain call, the entire cast — including our members dressed in their campaign t-shirts — stood in unity. Photo: The MU.
WNO orchestra members joined their colleagues in the chorus, production and management to directly address the audience, which included chair of Arts Council England Nicolas Serota, about the urgent need for better, more sustainable funding.
At curtain call, the entire cast — including our members dressed in their campaign t-shirts — stood in unity. WNO’s new General Directors, Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree, made an impassioned speech to the audience, appealing for WNO to remain a full-time company.
They paid homage to its nearly 80-year history and shared their hope that Wales, and South and Central England, will continue to enjoy WNO for at least another 80 years.
Support has been overwhelming
Our members have been taking industrial action since September 2024, building public support along the way. Nearly 15,000 people have signed our public petition, and we've spoken directly with politicians to strengthen the case for protecting jobs and increasing funding.
Before Saturday’s performance, our musicians were joined outside the Millennium Centre in Cardiff by members of the public who stopped to show their solidarity — wearing campaign t-shirts, signing the petition, and posing for photos. The response has been overwhelming and has helped support members through extensive industrial action.
@wearethemu
Welsh National Opera needs your help‼️ Funding cuts are forcing WNO management to make major changes to the company, and the orchestra and chorus are under threat. WNO is a multi-award winning, internationally renowned organisation. It represents the best of Welsh and UK arts. Any cuts would be a major loss for culture and the arts as a whole. Please sign our petition to help #ProtectWNO: theMU.org/WNOBalch Video description: Multiple pieces to camera, featuring various members of WNO outside the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. Various cutaways to striking members outside the theatre and split screen visuals of WNO performances. #Musicians #MusiciansOfTikTok #MusiciansUK #TradeUnion #MusiciansUnion #UnionStrong #WNO #Opera #SavetheArts #SaveWNO #WNOProud
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