NYMT/BYMT 2026

Thank you @doesanybodyhaveamap !

DD hates recorded auditions as cannot focus and relate to an audience so whenever it's possible we do real life auditions. Our logistics is crazy atm, that's why I was thinking about different locations. I also think it would be better to do separate auditions as I guess can be intense and tiring for younger ones, it's good to know they allow that!

I don’t know how the new format works. When my son auditioned it was self tape & you could send in a recording on up to two instruments and mention any others you play.

Thank you @Biscuitsneeded and @Comefromaway , that's good to know! DD has only recently taken to MT, very keen but I think I need to manage expectations, especially as singing is not her forte 😁

@Comefromaway Is it possible to audition on multiple instruments?

In the past both Carousel & Chess cast classical dancers.

I think it would be up to you. Some people would prefer to do both auditions on the same day for practical and time reasons, but there's no reason why you can't book two separate auditions. And there is usually room for fabulous dancers, decent dancers who sing and act, and people just starting out in dance as long as they give it their all. As for the types of dance, all depends on the show. There was ballet in Carousel this year, and as far as I know WSS has a ballet! NYMT will be keen to meet your DD whatever her skills, so definitely give it a whirl.

Thank you all for sharing the insights!

If a child auditions both as stage performer and musician, does it have to be the same audition city? Do you think there is a chance for a classical ballet dancer or is it just for commercial/street/hip hop? DD is doing contemporary but not very advanced (she's 11), ballet is roughly Intermediate.

So great to see all these posts already on this thread! Loads of luck to all the young people auditioning. No idea what will happen with my own young adult but I shall be watching the NYMT shows regardless!

So great to see all these posts already on this thread! Loads of luck to all the young people auditioning. No idea what will happen with my own young adult but I shall be watching the shows regardless!

So great to see all these posts already on this thread! Loads of luck to all the young people auditioning. No idea what will happen with my own young adult but I shall be watching the shows regardless!

My DD (14) has done both BYMT and NYMT. I think most people have covered the NYMT answers so I will try and answer for BYMT.

BYMT have one Easter Production and the rest of their productions take place through the summer holidays At audition you can opt out of consideration for a place in the he Easter Production if the dates don't work for you.

You only have one Audition workshop with BYMT - there is no recall stage.

BYMT operates a reserve list system for production offers. After all auditions at all locations have taken place first stage offers will be made. These all go out on the same day and if successful you will be offered a place in a production not a specific role. Casting will take place as part of the rehearsal process.

If you don't get offered a production in the first round of offers you will be placed on a reserve list. The date offers are made varies year by year but as a rough guide expect first stage offers late February and for the reserve list to remain open until late April.

All BYMT courses are residential. They stage productions in various UK regional theatres which will be announced at the same time as the 2026 season. As an indication The Lowry Manchester, Exeter Northcott and Southwark Playhouse were all used in '24 and '25. Accommodation is typically in a boarding school commutable from the Theatre.

You do not need to audition to take part in a BYMT musical workshop or skills course - usually referred to as "camps" in BYMT speak. Again camps are always residential and are held at various locations across the UK.

Camps are typically1 week long and Productions take place over 2 consecutive weeks

Hope this answers most BYMT audition questions but if I've missed anything let me know :)

Thank you. He is depping so far he has one confirmed venue. There was potentially another but he is not now needed for that one. But they have him on standby.

Congratulations to @Comefromaway son on the upcoming tour!

The dates for the NYMT shows which have been announced are all on the NYMT website now.

For BYMT it is more variable. After the auditions you may be allocated a show or put on a waiting list to be allocated a show at a later date. I’m not sure the route if unsuccessful. Those on the waiting list can have a bit of a delay to find out which can make summer plans tricky.

With NYMT when you find out you’ve been successful you are told the role you’ve been cast in. With BYMT you are placed in a show then casting is part of the rehearsal process. The length of rehearsal will depend on the show. My ds did one which was away for 3 weeks with rehearsals straight into show however this was post Covid so they were pretty much in a bubble till after the final show. The next year he did about 4 days in May half term then 2 weeks in the summer. For other shows there have been no May rehearsals and just a couple of weeks in the summer. I’ve not looked on the website recently but there may be more details or parents with more recent experience could help better. With BYMT all accommodation and food is included and no weekend home in between.

Both are great experiences and my ds loved every show he took part in.

No, ds hasn't as such (although last year he worked for them on their creative team) but this is what auditionees have reported on here over the years (I first came on the thread in 2021)

They are based in Leeds. Last year they used a boarding school just outside Leeds for the production ds worked on.

Thanks @Comefromaway

Have you done BYMT before?

It looks like they do summer and Easter productions...?

Where are they based? Do they also several weeks of residential? It says 15 nights on their website - does that mean it's 15 consecutive nights and does that include the production?

Any insight into how it actually works greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

BYMT seem to have a scheme of reserve lists and rolling acceptances so often you don't know dates until very late I'm afraid.

@doesanybodyhaveamap thank you so much!

Super helpful to understand the Easter week. They haven't published any dates so I assume you wouldn't get the date until they offered the place and need to keep all Easter hols free for now?

So I need to hold off on other family plans (not my strong point) without letting onto the kids that this is why, in case he doesn't get in and then feels like we've missed out on a holiday or had to do something different as a result... Or so siblings don't feel that his schedule is driving all our plans!

Has anyone here done BYMT, and does that work in a similiar way?

Huge thanks again!

• Are they then required for any rehearsals in Easter holidays?

yes if a stage performer, no if a musician. There is usually one week of rehearsals at Easter. If they are offered a new musical workshop then they are not usually needed at Easter

• For the summer residentials, if the performance is in Birmingham, are they in Birmingham for two weeks? Or are rehearsals elsewhere?

I'm not sure what happened last year but both times my son has performed the 1st week of rehearsals was in a boarding school not close to the performance venue, the 2nd week was at a premier Inn near to the theatre

• Do they do two weeks of rehearsals and then performance dates the following week? Do they come home for all the weekends?

One week of rehearsals at Easter, one week in summer, then one week of tech/dress at the theatre. They come home for the weekend in between

• Or one week rehearsals and then performances the following week?

see above, 2nd week is usually tech/dress followed by 3/4 days of performances

• Do we need to accompany them on all the performance dates (eg. booking a hotel/ bnb etc)?

No, you drop them off on the first day and they are accommodated/chaperoned and you collect them after the final show