LONDON–UK Theatre and SOLT have been working closely with members and with Government on Brexit preparations since the referendum result announcement in 2016.

Now, in addition to our broad range of support for the theatre sector to prepare for Brexit, we have successfully applied for a Government Brexit Business Readiness Grant, which we are able to use to help the theatre sector prepare for a possible No-Deal Brexit scenario.

In the lead-up to 31 October, UK Theatre and SOLT will be running a series of free, open sessions delivered by expert teams, with the aim to:

• Equip attendees to plan for their business to exit the EU under a No-Deal
• Provide an overview of the broader impact of exiting the EU
• Give attendees an opportunity to ask questions of experts and share information with each other
• Signpost attendees to other relevant sources of information to help them prepare

Held in Manchester, London, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Bristol and Birmingham, the sessions are free to attend and open to everyone working across the theatre sector – including those who do not belong to any association or membership body.

We are working with organisations including OneDanceUK, the Independent Theatre Council, the Association of British Theatre Technicians and the Federation of Scottish Theatres to reach out to a wide network of theatre professionals, organisations and sole traders across the UK, inviting them to attend.

Sessions will cover key areas identified from the results of four Brexit surveys conducted by UK Theatre and SOLT over the last two years. The topics that will be covered are:

• Movement of people (short term and longer term, including immigration)
• Movement of freight (sets, equipment etc.)
• Supply Chain (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods)
• IP (copyright and trademarks) and Data
• Q&A with panel

Two additional specialist sessions (Preparing for a No-Deal Brexit: Touring in and out of the EU – movement of people and equipment) have also been programmed to help companies whose business involves importing and exporting work and workforce to and from the EU.

For anyone interested in attending a session, booking opens soon via the UK Theatre website.

This funding is only available for No-Deal planning and we are following current Government advice on how to prepare as a sector.

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The Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre issued the following press statement today about how the UK leaving the EU affects the theatre community in Great Britain and the future for organizations and artists inside and outside the UK that receive European funding.

SOCIETY OF LONDON THEATRE AND UK THEATRE STATEMENT ON EU REFERENDUM

LONDON–Following the referendum decision on the UK’s membership of the EU, the Society of London Theatre (“SOLT”) and UK Theatre Association (“UK Theatre”) express concern as to the future for the theatre sector – a sector in which the UK leads the world both in creativity and in business.

Theatre and the performing arts play a valuable, unifying role in society and we look forward to supporting our members, and the wider theatre community, to make this contribution over the coming years.

SOLT and UK Theatre have been a major part of the Performing Arts League of Europe (PEARLE) in Brussels since 1990, playing a significant role in lobbying and negotiating on EU legislation and its implications for the performing arts sector.  Over the coming months, we will continue our work with these colleagues on many areas not least:

• Movement of artists, and creative staff, between countries
• Employment law for the future – and as it changes, how new UK law needs to accommodate our sector
• Other European regulations and their effect on our sector
• The future for organizations and artists working in and out of the UK that currently receive European funding.

In the UK, we urge politicians from all parties to consider the impact on this creative industry in which we lead as regulations and laws are amended – we remain ready to support this process.  The recent introduction of the UK Theatre Production Tax Relief has increased activity throughout the UK, and we look forward to working with government at all levels to enable the theatre sector to thrive.

Background Information on Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre

• Society of London Theatre (SOLT) is the not-for-profit organization which provides a collective voice for the theatre owners, producers and managers of all the major commercial and grant-aided theatres across London. As well as protecting the interests of all its member theatres, SOLT promotes theatregoing through activities including the Olivier Awards with MasterCard, the TKTS ticket booth, the Official London Theatre website and its printed fortnightly listings guide, Theatre Tokens and the popular annual celebration West End LIVE in association with MasterCard. It also administers the audience development initiatives Kids Week and Get Into London Theatre, and supports a number of theatrical charities including Stage One and Mousetrap Theatre Projects.

• Established in 1894, UK Theatre is the UK’s leading membership organization for theatre and the performing arts. UK Theatre supports theatre and performing arts organizations and individuals who work professionally in the performing arts at any stage of their career. Members benefit from access to a range of professional services, high quality training and events, and networking opportunities. In addition to running the UK Theatre Awards, UK Theatre leads audience development programmes and actively campaigns on behalf of theatres and their audiences.

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