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Original poster

NYMT/BYMT 2024!

833 replies

Biscuitsneeded · 27/10/2023 14:20

Seeing as NYMT have announced their shows, it feels like a good time to start a thread for anyone with DC planning on auditioning for 2024 for either NYMT or BYMT - as performers or musicians, or as assistant creatives. Please come and say hi and tell us a bit about your DC. There are lots of experienced parents of DC who have been part of both organisations, and these threads are always genuinely supportive and helpful.
I'll invite some previous thread participants below - please come and say hi!

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Original poster
Biscuitsneeded · 28/10/2023 15:41

@wonderfullife123 Would you say the standard of the shows in terms of performance/production values etc were comparable? I'm not being disingenuous, because I have read some excellent reviews of BYMT shows but I have never seen one. My impression is that BYMT do lots of shows, and one or two of them will get the better venues and bigger budget sets and costumes, and then there will be several other projects that are still great to be involved in but not so much their 'flagship' shows. Is that a fair assessment?

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wonderfullife123 · 28/10/2023 15:20

That's right @Biscuitsneeded BYMT have actually expanded their F2F audition locations this year so no need to audition online @Onedaymore123 .

@chopc my DDs did BYMT last year and loved it, got lots out of the experience. Neither have done NYMT so can't compare, but I would certainly recommend BYMT as an option based on their time there, and as far as I can understand BYMT do more shows. My DDs are planning to audition for both this year. The NYMT and BYMT seemed to have different audition processes in that NYMT asked for a prepared song whereas BYMT was all workshopped on the day. And no recall for BYMT as previously mentioned.

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Biscuitsneeded · 28/10/2023 15:15

@Mcmumager Two friends of mine have DC who did the Catastrophe Bay workshop. They said they loved the music and it's going to be an interesting show (which is being further developed from what it was last summer to offer a greater range of roles/ages) and it should have places for some actor-musos too.

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Biscuitsneeded · 28/10/2023 15:08

@Onedaymore123 I see the dilemma. As a secondary teacher I would observe that it is the fulfilled kids who have interests and hobbies who tend to do best at GCSE - even if their hobbies mean giving up some revision time. They seem to focus more on revision in the remaining time available, it seems. So one week at Easter with NYMT would still allow the other week for revision. But that's a matter for individual families to decide! 15 is a tricky age but hopefully all the shows will have some places for the mid teens - I would say especially our House which is all about 16 year olds (and their older selves). I think BYMT have plenty of in person auditions as well as online.

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Onedaymore123 · 28/10/2023 14:46

It's a tricky one, she has her GCSE's and will be quite stressed at Easter! Also she says not sure her chances of the roles on offer at only 15...she might wait a few years. She was thinking of trying BYMT...but not a lover of on line auditions 😅

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Biscuitsneeded · 28/10/2023 14:41

BYMT haven't posted any show details or costs yet. I saw the NYMT costs somewhere on the website - comparable with last year, if not slightly cheaper - but I now can't find them!

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Biscuitsneeded · 28/10/2023 14:33

Welcome@chopc . To answer your question, BYMT and NYMT are broadly similar in that they both involve a residential and usually a show at the end. NYMT plan their season and then audition to find the performers and musicians. BYMT hold auditions without necessarily having all their plans in place, but in the end if you're accepted you'll get allocated to a show, but not necessarily cast for a specific role - that gets done by BYMT once the residential starts. BYMT tend to do more shows, so by definition can offer more places. They have a catalogue of their own shows so they don't need to pay performing rights. NYMT tend to do a mixture of known shows (eg Our House and Into the Woods) and new commissions, or shows that they have previously workshopped, such as Catastrophe Bay which they workshopped last summer. I'm not qualified to pass comment on the relative merits because DS has only ever done NYMT - there are parents on here whose DC have done both and could possibly add some thoughts. Both are very well regarded and kids almost always have a wonderful time.
One difference which a previous post has highlighted - NYMT do all their auditioning and recalls by late Feb and everything gets decided pretty quickly after recalls. So you would know by the beginning of March if DC were involved, and if so, which dates. BYMT do initial results in early March, but then put other people on a waiting list which can make life difficult for families wanting to organise their holidays! The upside of that is of course that some applicants then get good news further down the line.

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Mcmumager · 28/10/2023 13:39

@wonderfullife123 fingers crossed you get things sorted earlier- we need a break don’t we!

To add to the stress flight home was delayed too and I arrived home at 6am and I was working that day lol . Needed a holiday after my holiday.

anyone know anything about catastrophe bay?

wonderfullife123 · 28/10/2023 13:30

@Mcmumager that sounds stressful and totally get where you are coming from with the family holidays especially as the children are getting older. Still plenty of options there for your DC without Into the Woods. Last year we had to book holiday so last minute and in the only viable week left because of the long wait on BYMT reserve list. Keen to avoid that this year if possible!

chopc · 28/10/2023 13:28

My DD was planning on NYMT but I hadn't heard of BYMT before today so thank you @Biscuitsneeded .

I would like to know the benefits of both if anyone would care to share from their DC experience in previous years

Mcmumager · 28/10/2023 13:19

Just looked at the dates and into the woods clashes with our holiday so one less to go for. We only had one week in the whole summer this year for us to take a family holiday which ended up with a day in the airport then our holiday cancelled due to air traffic control strike! After 2 days at the airport we did get away for a shorter break but I said this year we are booking a holiday at the start of the summer!

Ds is 18 now and might be the last one ( although he said he’ll always come if we are paying 😂) so I just want it to be planned.

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Biscuitsneeded · 28/10/2023 13:17

@Onedaymore123 I can't see any reference to a showcase concert as such, but they have mentioned several projects, and if they want to keep their relationship with FUSE festival they may well have something planned. So glad to hear your DD enjoyed her experience last year. Will she want to audition again?

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wonderfullife123 · 28/10/2023 13:07

@Onedaymore123 I can't see dates for a showcase concert on the website - there is Platform on tour which I think @Biscuitsneeded had mentioned.

Comefromaway · 28/10/2023 12:58

Of course Our House was Michael Jibson’s first west end leading role.

Onedaymore123 · 28/10/2023 10:31

Hello it was my daughters first tine in the concert last year and she had a blast! Thank you so much to everyone on here for all their invaluable support. Do you think they will do another concert?

Operasingerkath · 28/10/2023 08:55

Thank you so much @Biscuitsneeded! My DS is very keen to audition again. We don’t know Our House so much but his NYMT friends have been raving about it, so we’re interested to learn more. He absolutely loves Into the Woods though! Exciting times ahead 🫶

nearlyhomealone · 27/10/2023 22:00

Thank you @Biscuitsneeded. DS is planning to audition and is excited.
I’m looking forward to seeing the dates so I can plan!!

Mcmumager · 27/10/2023 21:21

Thank you @Biscuitsneeded . Think I might have ds and dd giving it a go this year so extra stress alongside the 6th form and drama school auditions 😂.

Ds has experience of BYMT and NYMT and both amazing experiences for him.

Good luck to everyone auditioning for 24!

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Biscuitsneeded · 27/10/2023 16:45

Hi @yodaforpresident Glad your DD is keen again!

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yodaforpresident · 27/10/2023 16:43

Thank you @Biscuitsneeded for starting the new thread. DD is extremely excited and plans to audition for both again this year.

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Biscuitsneeded · 27/10/2023 16:38

Hello @DorotheaDiamond and @DalekFan . Welcome!

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DalekFan · 27/10/2023 16:18

Hello everyone again. DD didn’t audition last year, but might do this year! So I will lurk just in case.

DorotheaDiamond · 27/10/2023 15:24

Where did you find the list of shows? Edit: found them! Had gone via bookmarked audition page first so not listed there!

DorotheaDiamond · 27/10/2023 15:22

Dd will audition as musician (trumpet) as well as actor (what she’d rather do)…. Suggestions for audition pieces gratefully received!

Original poster
Biscuitsneeded · 27/10/2023 15:22

@Comefromaway you definitely have a wealth of knowledge and you're most welcome to lurk!

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