The creative industries – everything from architecture and fashion to film and theatre – form one of the fastest-growing areas of the UK economy, contributing 6pc to GDP and employing 2m people. And this talent pool is generating substantial returns from business abroad, drawing significant inflows of cash to the UK.

All the world’s a stage

Shakespeare may be the world’s most famous playwright, but modern British theatre is increasingly in vogue across international markets. Production company 1927 was founded eight years ago and is currently touring its latest show, The Animals and Children took to the Streets, a hybrid of animation and live performance.

“The show has been performed 384 times, at 80 venues, in 28 countries, across five continents,” said the show’s producer, Jo Crowley. “Compare that to the first show we made, which visited 13 countries, and you can see the increased international demand.”

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk