NYMT/BYMT 2026

My DD age 17 height 5 foot 9 didnt get a recall. She looks quite old. She's strong so her teacher said she probably didnt fit the look they were after. I was very surprised as the people she auditioned with were a very equal level to her and they all got one or two recalls. Can anyone make sense of this? Do you think she was too tall or too old looking for this year's shows or was it just a case of not enough roles and too many people fitting the puzzle already? I find it hard to believe she didnt fit any workshop either. Reading all your messages, I am wondering all the more....

@MxPicklesof course you are right. I feel for any audition, peolle perhaps should have a character/ show in mind and demonstrate they can perform that role in their choice of song/ monologue.

However, from my personal experience, every young person cast in a show are talented and can play any role. It is likely their look/ personality or something else that gets them particular roles. Not necessarily ability. That’s the world of performing arts

You never know! I think Just So could be cast in lots of different ways. Good luck. 🍀

I tried to stay away but they pulled me back in!

Ugh wanted to take a break for a few days before DD's recall on Saturday but I keep getting called back!

Wanted to quickly say - I am also firmly of the opinion that the song you chose would affect the show you were streamed in to. I would even go so far as to say that in the case of the Under 18's list there may have even been a few songs that were deliberately put in there with certain characters/roles in mind (checking range and vocal quality) Thats not to say you have to pick that song to be considered for a particular character more if you did pick a song that demonstrated an near idential vocal range and style to this years show songs its only gonna go in your favour right?

@HanD31 so very jelly you got Prima Facie tickets. I sat in the automated queue for hours on the day they were released but no luck! I have seen it when it was on NT at home but to see it live would be something else!

Good luck for Saturday/Sunday all of those recalling. Grateful of course to be in the room but also very firmly managing expectations this year as our casting options are narrow!

That’s a lovely post @redgee ! I’m sure your DC will have a fab time on the skills course. Canterbury is a gorgeous place and as a fellow northerner, I’m all for visiting the west end whenever it’s possible! My DS is now at stage school and based just outside London and we make it a mission to see a show every time we go to see him. You enjoy that unique position of being in NYMT without the overthinking while you can 😂

I think your DC will have a lovely time in Canterbury, which is a great place to do a course, and no doubt they will enjoy London and the West End en route too! You can read all about recalls this year on here and enjoy not having that stress, and fingers crossed your DC will be back next year and you too might be in a position to overthink!! As the parent of someone who has kind of aged out of NYMT (not officially but graduating drama school this year so really needs to find some work) I am enjoying not having the late February nerves!

Reading all your posts about recalls, I am both jealous and also relieved - we didn't get a recall (first timers,, not worried);
but there is something lovely knowing we have booked our skills workshop and have planned theatre trips either side (well ... if it's going to be in Canterbury, and we are travelling down from Yorkshire, it would be oh so remiss of us NOT to call into the West End 😉😆).

Wishing everyone all the best for their DC - I'm the one sat over in the corner observing that isn't (for once) overthinking; and not feeling smug at having our summer sorted, because I know I'll be an overthinking mess of a person should mine ever get a recall. 😫

Oh the overthinking! It’s impossible to avoid. I’m one step away from being banned from being able to mention anything associated with NYMT…it’s possibly 150 per show if there are 9 workshops with 15-20 in each. There must have been lots of first rounders this year. Lots of luck to all who audition this weekend!

Excited and nervous to be heading over tomorrow and that’s just me 🤣 DD and DS looking forward to it though ❤️

Do you think might have been 200 per day? I feel 200 per show is a few too many, but altogether not enough!
The nerves have kicked in here for Saturday...and dd has woken up with a sore throat 🙈 rushing to the shops to buy some honey and lemon now!!

Only one recall here too. I agree that it’s easy to overthink the reasons behind a casting recall. I don’t know for sure but I believe that the recall decisions are made by the creatives in the room during the first round audition workshop. Therefore the outcomes are going to vary. One creative may have different opinions/ be looking for something different to another creative. I also think the song you pick has an influence. My DC had to pick off the list this year and they went for a more legit song. Subsequently they have been recalled for the show that that song is suitable for and not the pop show…..
There is the possibility that if your child has already been in a production that the creatives already know their abilities and therefore they end up being cast in another production than the one they have been recalled for anyway…. My DC knows of someone this happened to last year…..!
And as an aside at my DC’s recall on Sunday they were told that they had recalled 200 young people in total. Now. I have no idea whether that’s just for that one production or across the board……🤷🏻‍♀️
Good luck to everyone this weekend! All the DC are amazing. I don’t know how they do it x

Trying not to overthink as it’s passed and she gave her all and she has moved on 😂. Now the wait of another week or so. Feels a long time this year. I hope the recalls next weekend all go well and the DC are excited. We saw prima facie a couple of nights ago. Jodie comer is amazing! Pretty hard content to be pushing out daily! Keeping busy with taking my youngest taking her to see Annie later and hoping I never have to watch it again. I think I have seen this show too many times now. How is everyone’s half term going?

We only have the one recall this year too - everybody DC knows has two. Who knows... (Yes I have overthought it plenty, don't worry, not letting the side down - but ultimately we will never know the reasons!).

When it comes to the casting workshops I can only say - trust them. They will not be intentionally disadvantaging anyone, and they will be looking at everyone. Redirecting someone could mean he didn't like what they were doing, where as yours got it spot on first time! You just don't know - but they build this huge jigsaw every year, time after time, without fail. And I truly don't think they get it wrong... even if it isn't always the result we want.

Remember the recalls are free. They COST them money to run. They didn't invite your kids to not look at them or give them a fair chance - they could choose to recall less and it cost less money or time. They want to see them do well.

I know my kid has a slim chance of getting in to their one recalled show - but hey, let's just give it everything you've got kid, and we'll see what happens this time...

Its so hard to know - but to make it back to casting for one show means its not a decision based on ability. I know you already know that but sometimes it helps to hear someone else say it!

In regads to number of recalls - we had a recall for 1 show last year and ended up with an offer for a different project. I know people who had recalls for 2 shows and didn't get anything.

Im trying to frame the one show call back as a positive that they have a really clear vision of where she fits in a production and now all she has to do is deliver in line with that vision.... Keeping everything crossed for you.

My DD is 5,5 and 18. So definitely adult looking.

My DD sounds exactly the same as yours - only recalled for one (Just So) I am putting it down to the fact she isn't easily cast as either a kid or an older teen. She is short (5 foot and an excuse) but has a alto/mezzo voice. She's too old sounding for a Ragged Child but too young looking for a High School Senior in Every Day and almost certainly too short for ensemble in WSS. Does any of this sound like your DD?

In previous years this inbetween group would have been picked up by Crescendo, but with no project of that nature this year the younger teens are going to find it harder IMO (unless they very obviously still read as a child)

Im very interested to know what the age group for Just So was if you consider your DD to be one of the oldest?

It was just so. They were an older one and with no one they have met from other shows before. She felt it worked better having 3 hours. I think it’s hearing from a friend who was redirected she feels a bit lost that the director hadn’t got that far as they were the first session. She is a fan all rounder but yes overthinking why not seen for two projects.

Oh I am coming back to add I see it was for a NMW. I think it may well have been a deliberate choice to run the audition this way to see how well people were co-operating and bringing ideas to preparing the work rather than just showing the finished product.

Keeping everything crossed for some good news for you!

I'm really sorry to hear that.
Last year I think the Tuck director ran the acting part of the recall as young people working in pairs or threes, and he moved around watching and listening to them rather than having everyone perform to the room. It seemed to work well when time was limited. The team will have notes on your DC from first round, and nobody would get a recall if they were not a good actor, so unless for a specific role it may not be necessary to spend a lot of time on acting out the scenes, depending on who is in which recall group. To a certain extent at recall they are checking the voices and looking for good fits. Just because they didn't single anyone out to perform to everyone doesn't mean they haven't got their eye on anyone in that first session. If they do take some people and redirect them it may be with a specific role in mind, but they already know all the recalled DC can act, and these directors are very experienced - they probably took in a lot more than the DC may have realised.

I'm sorry to hear this. Its so bad when they come out feeling rushed or unseen.

Can I ask what project they were recalling for please? I am just wondering if it was deliberate to observe as a group because of the nature of the casting.

My DC feels really deflated as she had the first audition group of the day and despite learning sides there was no time to perform so director walked around room observing the small groups. Then a friend said their group (later in day) were redirected so it doesn’t feel like DC got to show what they could do unlike the next group. My DC was only recalled for one show not 2 like most of their friends so it all feels a bit flat. Last year she felt there was more time and it’s hard as we don’t live in the south so it’s a mission going down. :(

My DS had a great time yesterday - thought the 2 hours felt a bit short, but thought they were amazing creatives, particularly for WSS. He also did Just So and absolutely loves the songs. I am definitely joining the 'overthinkers' club for the next 10 days... DS was completely relaxed about the wait...very different story for me and yes, if this is his future career, I will definitely need help for my total inability to wait! Good luck for those going in next weekend. From what I hear, they have a really brilliant knack at putting everyone at ease. You just have to go for it - she says, with zero ability in the field of performance...😂

Well you definitely had me gripped! Just to say, I fear there were 3 recalls for WSS yesterday, my DS knew people there before him, then there was his and then he knew someone going in later in the afternoon for another one...😱

@doesanybodyhaveamap thank you for your encouraging words. She did eventually get offered a place last year (last minute, I assume someone dropped out) but we couldn't take it up 😭.
So I guess we're still at stage one!

My dc was in lightening boy last year and I’d say with them using the material for that in the new musical workshop they will be just looking for them to have lots of fun and express themselves. Come on in is such a great song you’d struggle not to!