NYMT

Well DS seems happy with his audition today. He was mostly just tired when he came out but has perked up now he's eaten, and is singing Memory (which wasn't his song) at the top of his voice so I think I can safely say he enjoyed his day. I hope the next few days go quickly so he can find out whether or not he has a recall... Has anyone got a fixed recall date yet?

It's very near Tate Britain. I had a lovely few hours in there last year! But appreciate you would probably like to be able to reserve a specific train - I suspect you'll hear towards the end of next week. But I wouldn't have thought it would run much later than 6pm if that helps.

Thank you for your reply. I have asked for the Saturday as the trains are proving problematic for the Sunday. Jeremy has said this is fine.

I think I'll just wait as I don't want us both to wait around for hours. Hopefully we will hear soon!!

Welcome Pinkstargazer, and congratulations to your daughter!
The recall duration usually depends on how many shows they are recalled for. I imagine your daughter will be there for a few hours. I think DS started at 10.30 in the morning last year, recalled for 2 shows, and he came out around 3pm, but another lot went in at that point. If you email Jeremy he may be able to tell you the earliest she'd be needed and the latest she'd be likely to finish - he's very, very nice. Have you been told which day she's going?

Hi there. Hope you don't mind me crashing this thread! My daughter auditioned last week in Manchester and has been recalled for Little Princess and Honk.

Does anybody know how long the recalls last and what time the day starts and finishes. I'm looking to book trains. Obviously don't know her time slot yet but need to book the train. Any advice?

Thanks for your help!

There was a young person from Belfast in Battle of Boat - I take it that's the one they found? I can see the problem that people may still be unwilling to pay for flights etc when nothing's guaranteed, and take your point that those who really want it will cross the ocean anyway. Hmmmm, a seemingly insoluble problem!

Wow EvilTwins that's really interesting. So basically it just needs educational institutions to be willing to host. There you go Aplo, a mission for you!!

They don't necessarily have a personal link for venues - NYMT emails out to schools asking if anyone wants to host them. There was one in Stroud (nearish to me) a couple of years ago. I've had the emails but I doubt anyone would want to get a train then bus (or drive) to our school - it's kind of in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps I should give it a whirl! Not sure it would be an advantage or not. The year they auditioned in Stroud, my students were already booked into the Bristol audition.

Should also point out that NYMT don't go to Wales, although I guess wherever you live in Wales it would b possible to get to Birmingham or Bristol (or Manchester). I bet it comes down to where they have 'friends' who can offer facilities to host an audition day. Leicester Curve is an obvious one, but the other schools/theatres must also have a personal link with NYMT. So maybe venues themselves in other parts of the British Isles (and Ireland) need to make the first move and offer their space to give their local young people chances.
To be honest, DS owes his wonderful time last year to the fact that they have an audition in our city. I wouldn't have travelled further afield with him to audition - not because it isn't worth it, but because I didn't know enough about the organisation, and/or have enough faith that he would be the kind of young person they were looking for. The fact that it was on our doorstep made us think it was worth a go. I wonder if they analyse where their cast members come from and review where to go on that basis? Slightly off-topic, I know, but it's interesting!

Yep, they finish on 12th Feb in London, with recalls the following weekend! I bet the creative team just collapse in a heap after they've cast everything - they don't get a weekend for two whole months!

Interesting re Scotland. Is there a Scottish equivalent? There is for National Youth Choir despite the fact that it's National Youth Choir of Great Britain - there's also one of Scotland.

On a separate note, does anyone know when NYMT first round auditions finish?

It's interesting that quite a few Irish young people over the years have taken part, even though to do so requires at least two flights for auditions plus rehearsals etc. I notice they don't hold any auditions North of Newcastle and I don't think there were any Scottish kids in DS's cast last year. Since Ireland is clearly so fruitful you'd think they'd do an audition round in Dublin (though I think they may have done one in Belfast last year???). Well done to your recalled student.
I hope they have a left a few recall spaces for the likes of DS and his friends auditioning this weekend!

And re: Let it Shine, much as I love Hamilton I didn't think it was the right choice of song for the TV show and I think the Welsh guy was lucky to go through - but I wouldn't be surprised if he was actually really good when singing more typical boy band stuff, if he can dump the musical theatre style. The boy in the cat T shirt just exuded charisma and deserved to go through. And the boy who sang Bring him Home - just wow! Unfortunately I would bet none of those 3 will end up in the final line-up. In the end they will cast 5 more conventional-looking boys, I'm sure.

Oh gosh, intense email alert is stressful! Every ping could be good or bad news!!! (Hope it's good news all round Aplo!). DS auditions this Sunday so I'll update next week... I could theoretically book him into a late YMT audition in London still, but I think actually we could all do with a holiday so if he doesn't get into NYMT I'll use the money I'd saved up towards getting us all a bit of sunshine. Thoroughly fed up with Winter now! However, if he's still keen by next year we might book both YMT and NYMT and see what happens. I was a bit put off by the idea that they have a 3 hour audition, then a very long wait, and then the shows are cast - it feels like NYMT do their casting much more thoroughly as they recall for specific shows and in many cases even for a specific role.
Hope both your DSs and your former students all get good news!

Re Let it shine.
I know that there were two NYMT alumni featured on Saturday. Th Welsh guy was very musical theatre, and grated on me. The other boy seemed very full of himself. Contrast both of these performers to the boy from Yorkshire, who sang Bring him home, and was brilliant and modest. Not sure I could see him as part of a boy band though.

Good to know EvilTwins, thank you. If this year doesn't work out DS might audition for both next time around. I know a couple of NYMT kids had also auditioned for YMT last year, and then not taken up their places as they had got into NYMT (the YMT offers come out later so I guess they were already committed to NYMT by that point anyway). I'd be interested to know which they would have picked if they'd received offers on the same day...

A student of mine did YMT a few years back and really enjoyed it. He's a professional actor now. I don't think it's as highly regarded as NYMT though I'm not entirely sure why.

Question: have any of your DC or students ever done YMT? Is it comparable to NYMT? There is an audition where we live for YMT too but unfortunately it's on the same day as the NYMT one! I hadn't heard of YMT until last year on this thread, but it sounds as if the experience is similar. If DS doesn't get NYMT this year I think we will try and go on holiday instead, but I wonder if it would be worth looking into YMT in future years? Any experience to share?

Yes, for those with recalls half term will be hard work! It does seem fair that way though, as the last auditions only happen the weekend before recalls. At this stage poor DS just wants to GET a recall - we'll worry about learning the material if we get that far... Feel like I'm wishing my life away here!