The Prime Minister has highlighted the growing global influence of British theatre during a visit to Shanghai, underlining how the UK’s creative industries are driving economic growth and

supporting jobs back home.

Visiting the Design Innovation Institute in Shanghai, the Prime Minister met with performing arts students from a local school alongside actress Rosamund Pike and representatives from the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The visit marked the expanding footprint of British theatre in China, where UK productions are reaching millions of new audiences.

Rosamund Pike joined the Prime Minister following her sold-out run in Inter Alia, a National Theatre production that will be broadcast in cinemas across China this spring through National Theatre Live. The initiative brings leading British theatre productions to international audiences and has become a major vehicle for showcasing UK talent worldwide.

British theatre has already enjoyed significant success in China. Since 2015, National Theatre productions have been screened in more than 7,000 venues across the country, reflecting strong demand for British cultural content.

The Shanghai visit follows the Prime Minister’s stop in Beijing, where he set out plans for a more consistent and strategic partnership between the UK and China. The aim is to open up further opportunities for British businesses, including those in the creative sector, to expand into China’s vast and fast-growing market.

The UK performing arts sector contributed £4.5 billion to the economy in 2023 and supported around 105,000 jobs, underlining its importance not only culturally but economically.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The success of Great British organisations such as the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company in China showcases the strength and appeal of our world-leading creative industries.

Their superpower is their soft power – benefiting Britain across the globe”.

The Prime Minister also met cast and crew from the Royal Shakespeare Company, which has announced that its award-winning West End production ‘Matilda the Musical’ will return to China for a third tour starting next month.

Together, the achievements of the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company in China highlight the growing role of British theatre as a cultural export—showcasing UK creative excellence worldwide while continuing to support jobs and growth at home.

Kate Varah, Executive Director and Co-CEO of the National Theatre, said: “The National Theatre offers the widest access to high quality theatre in the world and has a rich history of sharing productions on stage and in cinemas in China. As such, joining the Prime Minister on this vital trip is a fitting privilege.   

We are thrilled to share the news that National Theatre’s smash hit play Inter Alia starring Rosamund Pike will be coming to Chinese cinemas this spring. Thanks to our partners ATW Culture, who have significantly increased the number of venues screening National Theatre Live in China, we are now able to turbo-charge our reach. This important play, written by Suzie Miller, resonated deeply with audiences during its sold-out run at the National Theatre. The stage production will shortly transfer to London’s West End, and it’s wonderful that a whole new audience across China will now get to experience it in cinemas”.

Daniel Evans, Co-Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company said, “The Royal Shakespeare Company is proud to share the best of British theatre with audiences around the world, strengthening the connections and joy that theatre brings across borders. The 2026 Matilda The Musical China tour showcases world-class British creativity and supports more than 100 jobs for UK nationals.

Running from February to August, this acclaimed, multi-award-winning production will delight over a quarter of a million audience members across China. First performed on our stage in Stratford-upon-Avon in the heart of the West Midlands in 2010, Matilda The Musical continues to inspire audiences across the globe”. Photo by [2], Wikimedia commons.