Brexit has created a 'catastrophic' situation for UK performers, with new barriers shutting them out of EU job opportunities. The National Theatre halted tours to mainland Europe in 2021, and Europe's largest educational touring company, White Horse Theatre, said Brexit threatened its future. Casting directors report that UK passport holders are increasingly blacklisted, and performers are sometimes asked to work illegally while on holiday.
Decline in Performing Arts Exports
According to the Office for National Statistics, performing arts exports to the EU fell from £1.15bn in 2016 to £929m in 2023. In contrast, exports to non-EU countries rose 18% over the same period, from £1.57bn to £1.87bn. This shift highlights the impact of new barriers, including visa rules that limit work to 90 out of 180 days, including holiday time, and complex customs, tax, and documentation requirements.
Impact on Jobbing Actors
While star performers like Theo James still secure high-profile campaigns, jobbing actors are losing out. Spotlight, the casting directors' bible, says TV commercials are now 'almost completely unavailable to UK performers.' One casting director noted that pre-Brexit, a TV campaign employed 45 UK-based crew, but similar campaigns are now cast in Spain or other EU countries. Another said it is easier to cast UK performers for jobs in Australia than in the EU.
Financial and Legal Hurdles
UK performers face social security deductions of 12% to 22% in the country where they work, which can take months to reclaim. Accommodation costs may be taxed as a 'benefit in kind,' reducing net wages. Equity, the performers' union, cites cases where members were taxed on accommodation, significantly impacting their earnings.
Rise of Illegal Work and Dual Citizenship
Agents encourage actors to seek dual citizenship, such as Irish passports, to bypass restrictions. However, some EU businesses now blacklist UK-only passport holders. More concerning is the practice of performers working without proper visas, claiming to be on holiday. Spotlight calls this a 'ticking timebomb,' risking deportation and blacklisting. Jonathan Shalit of InterTalent Rights Group says, 'I have seen people suggest coming on the wrong visa.'
Disproportionate Impact on Young and Working-Class Actors
Young performers and those from working-class backgrounds are hit hardest. Summer contracts at theme parks, tours, and cruises, once a staple for students and graduates, are now largely closed off. Casting directors report a significant decrease in working-class actors picking up EU jobs, as they cannot afford visa costs or wait months for payments.
Shalit concludes, 'Brexit has been catastrophic for the creative industries. This is self-inflicted. Europe don't really want us unless they have to.' The culture select committee is investigating the impact of Brexit on performers going to the EU.
