Brexit: ‘Real dividend’ Leaving the bloc unshackles UK outlook on crop production – Express

A production of Phantom of the Opera has been brought in from China to tour the EU rather than a production from the UK due to costs and red tape after Brexit, the boss of a theatre company has said.

Jessica Koravos, president of the Really Useful Group, which promotes the shows of Andrew Lloyd Webber around the world, told MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee about the complexities of staging British productions in the EU in the wake of Brexit.

Ms Koravos said it was more straightforward and less expensive to bring in a production from China.

She told MPs: Under the current circumstances, I would not dream of sending a UK production into Europe.

"I have in fact just made a decision to take a production that has been out together in China of Phantom of the Opera and bring that into the EU because it's more straightforward and less expensive."

Asked why it is more straightforward to bring a production from thousands of miles away in China, she added: "Because you can put it together as a unit touring company where its a single application for the company that goes into the Schengen Area and you get one permission for the whole production instead of having to deal with a series of individuals."

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Brexit: 'Real dividend' Leaving the bloc unshackles UK outlook on crop production - Express