NYMT/BYMT 2026

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!

Same for Just So and also Just So on 10 - 12 on the 22nd ( I know cause we swapped!)

For the NMW I think what they are assessing is slightly different than for productions, yes of course they want to see how you sing dance and act but mostly they are looking at how quickly you can take direction, how flexible you are in your approach to trying out new things, and how many ideas you are bringing to the process. You can't really establish that if the material is overly rehearsed.

I'd say have a couple of ideas up your sleeve that say "ancient greece"(personally I'd be looking up a few traditional greek dance steps even if exectued badly) to get the ball rolling but be ready to just go with the flow on the day :)

It a good idea to be familiar with the songs in advance just cause its one less thing to think about one the day, but I wouldn't stress too much about being word perfect. Having good ideas and energy is probably more important!

Hi @Wigeon yes I assumed/ read that too but my DD seems convinced that everyone else would turn up knowing lines / songs. Fingers crossed that is not the case.

It might be possible to compile a fairly accurate list just from posters on this thread. What I know:

10am-12pm Sat 21st ArtsEd - recall for all NMWs (my DD)

Same time, date, venue: recall for Ragged Child (DD's friend)

I understood from the instructions that they don't have to learn anything by heart. This bit seems fairly clear to me?

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone might be able to advise a bit on what prep should be done for the New Musicals callback? My DD who is 11 and will be attending her first NYMT callback is going this Saturday 21st at ArtsEd. Having read through the material for the NMW which is all the Lightning Boy stuff, she wondering if she should be learning both songs off by heart? or just the second one or not have to learn anything off by heart and just familiarise herself with it all without actually having to fully learn it. Would be lovely to have a rough idea of what is expected as it seems to be a different from the other callbacks with specific musicals where there are songs to learn for either older or younger performers.
Thank you in advance for any advice. 🙏