NYMT/BYMT 2026

Yes, the wooden spoon of a skills course was offered, but isn’t that just a way for NYMT to raise extra funds for their productions and workshops?

It’s hard to imagine the skills course would be as high quality as the Italia Conti pre-vocational, Trinity Laban or other similar summer courses.

Plus there’s the public humiliation of all the staff and other DC on the skills course knowing DD failed her audition, which I don’t think she could bear.

@Biscuitsneeded that’s a really lovely post, but I think the reason a few DC attending the skills course are cast in productions the following year probably has more to do with the extra 12 months of singing, dance and acting lessons, lead roles in several more school/local shows and an extra year of maturity, rather than just attending a one week holiday course. Also, quite possibly, they were already “good enough”, but just not quite the right casting type for the shows that year.

After paying for a full day audition workshop and DD and I both travelling for 3 hours for her to attend, I would definitely hope to be repaid with a little feedback to help with future auditions. Even knowing which of the three areas she fell down in would be useful, or if it was just her height, body shape or not coming across as ultra confident in the audition room.

Yes, @HanD31, a rejection definitely builds resilience, experience and confidence, so we don’t regret her attending the audition. It would just be nice to get a little feedback so the day doesn’t seem almost entirely wasted.

It’s really hard when the result seems so different to other successes and the level your DC is working at elsewhere but casting is strange, and can come down to things like there is already someone like your DC with same vocal range and ability. So hope she doesn’t take personally and uses it as another notch to her armour. I think resilience and that metaphorical armour is most important to build at this stage. Good luck for Mountview. My DD has hers coming up soon. It’s a hectic year!

I would also add that on here it may seem as if most people get NYMT recalls, and therefore not getting one may feel extra tough. But this thread isn't representative of the general experience. A lot of parents here have young people who have previously taken part, so are the kind of young people who are likely to do well - not because any preference is given to previous participants, as everything goes on what they do on audition day, but just because getting in once is a good sign that you are of the standard, and after that it's more about suitability for show and roles. And other parents find their way here by googling because their DC has a recall and they want to know more. But there are also some whose DC get offered a skills course, and they take up the offer and have a wonderful time and learn loads, and then come back the following year and the DC's progress means they do get recalled.

So sorry your DD was disappointed after her NYMT audition. It's so brave to go and do something like that and it's extra tough when they feel it's gone well. However, she should have been offered something. If you're not invited to recalls you get the offer of a skills course. Do check the email again and if there is no mention of the skills course, I would get in touch with them.
I don't know about BYMT being 'gentler'. They have more shows, so it's arguably easier to get a place in one, but still they don't and can't take everyone, and have to send 'no thanks' emails to plenty of young people. I would say both companies strive to be kind, respectful, considerate of auditionees. Inevitably some young people have to be disappointed, even very talented ones. But I'd like to hope the news is worded kindly. It really doesn't mean they don't see talent. Every year NYMT can only recall around a quarter (at my best guess) of those they audition, and very good performers have to miss out - even those who have been in a show previously.

On Sundays you can park on the single yellow lines on Goldsmith Road.

Break a leg!

We sadly didn’t get NYMT this year, not even a workshop. Frustratingly no feedback, which would be so helpful, as DD seems to be top of her game, always gets the lead role in her school/local musical theatre groups, progressing through the West End Calling competition, trains with one of the top professional dance schools in the country, represented by one of the top agents for acting, so it would be really useful to know where she fell down.

Perhaps all for the best though, as I think the gentler ethos of BYMT is probably a better fit for her - we’re keeping all fingers and toes crossed!

Any advice on parking near Mountview? We are off to first round audition tomorrow.

Yes, we were asked for any dates they weren't available, so you probably did already tell them, but might be worth dropping them a line to confirm.

Can anyone remind me… when we registered our DC for the first NYMT audition, did we have to give any confirmed dates we knew already they wouldn’t be available? I can’t remember… My DD is away on a school trip in April and the dates clash with one of the new musicals workshops (she has a casting call for those) but she’s available for the others. Wasn’t sure if I’d already made them aware of that or if they ask them at the recall or should I email and let them know?

I actually watched the show a couple of times about 25 years ago! Once in Edinburgh at the festival and once in Taunton. From what I remember there was a very wide age range. As there are little (ragged!) children and lots of older ones playing the adults too. I remember I was very impressed by the piece at the time as an impressionable teenager…. I’m sure it will be a very special show this time around too.

Congratulations 😊. Out of interest what age range are they looking at for ragged child?

Results out from this weekend: Recall for The Ragged Child for my DC x

Ok! great. Good luck everyone. 🤗

I think it’s all come to anyone recalled as my child has it for 21st.

Material for the 15/2 arrived today. Sounds like there will be dance workshops - not clear why only 2 hours. Obviously to my eyes it all looks completely impossible but I am sure all our DC will take it in their stride.
I guess they send material for each call back about 10 days in advance of each workshop so everyone is equal. They are still doing preliminary auditions this weekend, so will probably send material for 21st/22nd recalls soon after that.
Exciting!

Last year they were 3 hours. We shall see I guess!

I said the same about it being 2 hours- says group movement and acting and singing. I’m surprised no dance especially with a show like west side story .

Surely material for the 15-2 will be emailed soon. Does anyone know why workshops are 2 hours not 3 hours like last year?

I say this every year - they are really nice people! I guess creatives who choose to work with young people are bound to be approachable, but I also think they actively aim to embody the values they want the participants to display. I don't think it's a coincidence that NYMT auditionees always support each other, that there is so rarely any diva behaviour and that participants often feel such a strong sense of belonging or having found their tribe. They learn that respect and mutual appreciation from the adults. I guess I'm feeling sentimental now, as my DS is moving on, but I will always tell anyone who will listen that NYMT has been the making of him.

Delighted to report back that NYMT were.happy to change the date for my DD’s casting workshop and said it was no problem to so very relieved!

So exciting! Is your ds there on 21st? Dd keeps asking if I've received the material yet and trying to secondnguess which Just So songs will be on the list! It's going to be a long 2 and half weeks! 😂

@madlybusymumoffour - DD did a residential skills course last year at Easter and then got asked to do a (non-residential) new musical workshop (called Windsong) in the summer. I can only assume they had someone drop out of Windsong and thought she was either a near miss at the original audition or impressed on the skills course, as she didn't get invited to a casting workshop, which is the usual way they are cast in a NMW or show.

Going on her experience (which so far has only been those two things), the skills course and the NMW were totally different. The skills course was more like being taught in acting, singing and dancing - it was what I imagine being like performing arts school might be like (although she's at a regular school so I don't really know!).

The NMW was about testing out a specific new musical, and the one she did was heavily about dance and movement, so there was a strong focus on choreography. There was the author /composer of the musical there, two choreographers and I think maybe a musical director as there was a bit of singing involved too. The sessions were about trying out different scenes from the musical to see how they could work, partly for the benefit of the author /composer. So it was really different to the skills course.

From this and previous similar threads I don't think it's the case that DC tend to go in a progression from skills course to NMW to full show - eg there seem to be DC on here who audition for the first time ever and get a show, then don't get a show the next year. Plus all kinds of other combinations.

I think getting a NMW or a show demonstrates that your DC did impress at audition because after the initial audition you (usually) get a call back to a casting workshop either for one (or several) of the shows OR for a NMW. Everyone else gets offered a skills workshop.

@Biscuitsneeded thanks for very useful info.

It's not an automatic progression, no. It means your DD scored well in the audition - well enough to be recalled to be considered for a new musical workshop. The new musical workshops are different from the skills workshops in that they develop a new piece of writing with the writers present - and a director, choreographer, MD etc. They may be cast in a specific role, or work as a part of an ensemble, but taking part means they get to shape the development of a potential new show, just as professional actors 'workshop' new show before they get produced. At the end of the residential week they usually perform a few scenes and numbers to parents. It's not fully produced with sets and costumes, but the young people usually really enjoy having input into what could be a new show, working with the writers, and feeling part of a company. Another bonus is that sometimes the new musical workshops go on to become a full production the following year, and sometimes the original participants get cast again (and sometimes they don't, of course!). This year's show Every Day was a workshop last year, for example.
Maybe somebody whose DC has done a workshop recently can give a bit more detail. Well done to your DD!

Can anyone tell me a bit more about NYMT new musical. DD has just been offered a casting workshop for this.

Are new musical workshops similar to the skills workshops or is it a slightly better offer than the skills workshops? and is it just an automatic progression from being offered skills workshop 1st year of auditions followed by new musical workshop second time auditioning.

Would be very grateful for any extra info on the new musicals. Thanks