National Theatre shelves plans for European tour due to extra costs of visas and permits post-Brexit

Luvvies’ labours lost: National Theatre shelves plans for European tour because of extra costs of visas and work permits after Brexit

  • Actors and musicians must now apply for visas and permits to perform in the EU
  • National Theatre said tours not financially viable due to lack of clarity and costs
  • Union members including Julie Walters have signed open letter to Government 

Dame Julie Walters among those who signed open letter asking for visa-free travel for creatives working in the European Union

The National Theatre has shelved plans to tour mainland Europe due to Brexit.

Actors and musicians must now apply for visas and work permits to perform on the Continent following the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Potential additional costs for documents and a lack of clarity around social security contributions as a result of the Brexit deal ‘means regrettably it is currently not financially viable’, the National Theatre said.

A spokesman told the BBC: ‘We’re awaiting further details of ongoing negotiations in this area and hope that in future we will be able to return to mainland Europe.

‘However, due to the amount of time needed to plan a tour, we are not able to commit to European touring until we have clarity around these points.’

The National Theatre has postponed plans to tour mainland Europe due to Brexit which makes touring 'financially unviable' company has said, citing potential added costs and uncertainty

The National Theatre has postponed plans to tour mainland Europe due to Brexit which makes touring ‘financially unviable’ company has said, citing potential added costs and uncertainty

More than 100 members of the union Equity, including Dame Julie Walters, signed a letter urging Boris Johnson to negotiate with the EU to allow ‘creative practitioners’ to visit Europe visa-free for work.

Culture Minister Caroline Dinenage said there were ‘a lot of obstacles to overcome’ after arts figures told MPs that Brexit had created an ‘absolute crisis’.