Visa red tape blow for Broons show’s US star
MICHTY me, Hen Broon has been barred from Scotland.
Less than a year ago, actor Tyler Collins starred as Hen Broon in the national touring production of The Broons.
This week however, the actor/musician has been told his visa application to remain in Scotland has been refused.
Mr Collins, an American who came to Glasgow to study at the RSAMD in 2007, has been working in the country consistently since leaving drama college.
The actor who grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, has appeared in productions staged by the National Theatre of Scotland, the Tron Theatre, the Citizens’ Theatre and Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre.
The six feet five-inch performer has also worked in Dundee and the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow, starring in comedy plays and panto.
But now Mr Collins can’t believe he has been refused entry back into the country.
“I’m gutted,” he said, speaking from his parents’ home in Florida.
“I had to return to the States after my visa ran out, and knew I would have to apply for an extension.
“But I got a letter back saying that evidence of my working has to come from more than one country.
“And I haven’t met ‘the required criteria for the category of media recognition.’”
Mr Collins added: “I even included a Romanian publication from my touring time in the country with NTS.”
The 27 year-old actor, who was enticed to Scotland by a deputation from the RSAMD, plans to re-apply.
In the meantime he may contact his MP, in the hope of lobbying the Home Office.
“I desperately want to continue living and working in Scotland.
“But right now, I feel my career has now been de-railed. And the longer I’m away from Scotland the harder it will be to get things going again.”
As well as acting continuously over the past seven years, appearing in ads for Irn Bru and Scottish Television, and enjoying stints in the BBC’s River City and Outlander, the actor has set up his own successful production company.
Already it has produced four award-winning short films and a new movie, Where Do We Go From Here? which one Best Film at the Sydney Indie Film Festival.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Securing an Exceptional Talent visa is a two-stage process, the first of which is securing an endorsement from the appropriate industry body. In Mr Collins’ case this was not forthcoming.”
The ‘appropriate industry body’ is the English Arts Council.
Tyler Collins says he is hoping the Arts Council will contact their Scottish counterparts Creative Scotland, who are aware of how his talent has been recognised in Scotland to date.
“My career, my life, is in Scotland,” he says.
“I really want to be back working there.”