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Original poster

National Youth Theatre

105 replies

Dancergirl · 05/01/2017 17:44

Dd is auditioning for National Youth Theatre in a few weeks' time. She is nearly 14 so this is all new to us.

There is a group workshop in the morning and an individual audition in the afternoon. She has to prepare a speech from a play of no more than 2 minutes.

Has anyone's dc auditioned before? Grateful for any advice or tips!

OP posts:
EvilTwins · 19/02/2017 19:40

Fantine - that's really interesting! I guess they have their own very specific agendas... sounds like your DD is doing well!

LottieDoubtie · 19/02/2017 19:48

Theres a lot of casting for the show they have in mind I believe - so a teen can be great objectively but not a good fit.

Theres also an element of randomness in all auditions- it is a total 'life's not fair' experience!

I've had kids I don't rate get into RADA and ones I really rate getting into NYT but I can never quite call the results of these things.

EvilTwins · 19/02/2017 19:53

NYT are also very open about their policy of recruiting 50% BAME members, which, given that far fewer than 50% of applicants are BAME might impact too.

FANTINE1 · 19/02/2017 20:15

BAME members?

EvilTwins · 19/02/2017 21:11

Black and Minority Ethnicity members.

FANTINE1 · 19/02/2017 22:10

Of course, thank you.

errorofjudgement · 19/02/2017 22:24

Oh wow. I hadn't seen that anywhere! So just when we were realising that there's always more competition if you're female, now the odds have shrunk still further!
DD found it odd there was only one judge listening to the monologues, and that they didn't have names or other identifying tags on for the workshop.
Definitely sounds like a lottery!

errorofjudgement · 19/02/2017 22:26

Sorry to clarify, the auditionees didn't have any name tags on, so no matter how you did, no one was keeping a record.

EvilTwins · 19/02/2017 22:45

I would imagine they had their photos handy though.

When was your DD's audition error?

FANTINE1 · 19/02/2017 23:40

My D for NYT auditioned in Manchester. She thought that the audition went well, but there was only one person over seeing the audition. He then sent a report back to HQ, and a decision was made from there. How they do this, when they haven't actually been present at the regional auditions puzzles me.However, my D was e mailed to say that she was Number 1 on the Waiting list for the course that takes place in August. We thought it likely that she would eventually be offered a place, due to the law of averages. Unfortunately, no place. I did contact them at one point, since we were booking holidays etc, but I got the distinct impression that I was being fobbed off. It took me several tries to get through. Not overly impressed really.
i know that there are loads of people on here who rave about NYMT, but they appear to have younger children , who have got lots of time ahead of them.
My D was 17 when she first auditioned. In my opinion, if you have not been cast in one of their shows at a relatively young age, it is difficult to break through at 18+, since they largely have their go to people who usually have profile. D was in the same audition as the girl cast in the lead in Spring Awakening, and she said it was very obvious that she was the one.
As I have already stated my D is in a well known Drama school, so this is not sour grapes, but I do think that people should be aware that, yes, it may be a wonderful experience to audition etc, but there is a clique.
I suspect NYT is similar.

EvilTwins · 19/02/2017 23:50

I have two students who started auditioning for NYT aged 14. One got in on his second try. The other went for his 4th attempt today. We went over his audition piece on Friday at school and he said to me "I'm under no illusions - I know they have a preferred 'type'".

The other one was in their 60th anniversary gala in September and whilst it was amazing to go and watch him in the West End, it was very very self-congratulatory (so much so that it was a big cringey) I also watched the NYMT 40th anniversary gala (the student who auditioned for NYT today was in that) and it was much much more enjoyable.

This same boy auditioned (recall) for NYMT yesterday (busy weekend) and was much more confident going in second year round. I think you're right though Fantine - they do tend to re-cast.

errorofjudgement · 20/02/2017 06:36

Interesting to hear these views - thank you both.
DD auditioned on Monday at Bristol.
She hasn't looked to NYMT as her singing isn't strong enough, and it's the straight drama she loves (does musical theatre at weekly classes)

FANTINE1 · 20/02/2017 09:19

There have been two NYMY alumni featured in Let it Shine recently, so yes, Evil Twins, they do have a type, and it is cringe.
Errorofjudgement, good luck to your DD.
My D is 19 now, and will not audition again for either, which is a shame.
She has enough to be thinking about at Central, though. It's a tough course.

errorofjudgement · 20/02/2017 18:11

Oh wow FANTINE1 you must be so proud of your DD. is she enjoying Central?
As DD is only Y11 we have a bit of time before there are any serious auditions, but I would be so proud if she were good enough for one of the big drama schools to accept her. Well done to your DD. Smile

FANTINE1 · 20/02/2017 20:25

Thank you so much!
It has been a long road with many disappointments along the way. She first auditioned two years ago, got to the final round, but was not offered a place.
This year she was put on the reserve list , and was eventually offerd the place in August. It was a relief.
The course is pretty intense, long hours, minimum 8-6/7 everyday, and sometimes part of Saturday too. She is beginning to understand why so many drama schools prefer students to either be a bit older, or to have had some time doing other things. It is emotionally very demanding, and can be unsettling at times.
Having said all that , she is enjoying it, and is very grateful to have been given the opportunity.
Good luck to your DD. Tell her that if she is not successful this year with NYT/NYMT, to keep trying.

errorofjudgement · 20/02/2017 22:00

Thank you and best if luck to your DD in following her dreams x

EvilTwins · 21/02/2017 18:54

I was chatting with my student who auditioned for NYT on Sunday today. He said that they explained how it works - the one person who watches the auditions is not the person who makes the final selections. That person can make recommendations, but then the final decisions are made at HQ so that they can make sure they get their desired mix of ages/ethnicity/socio-economic backgrounds etc etc. For the first time this year they asked him a lot more about his school (including the name of his drama teacher) and about the experience he had. It seems a daft way of doing it. He said that the NYT ambassadors said that of a group his size (there were 60) they might make a maximum of 5 or 6 recommendations.

errorofjudgement · 22/02/2017 06:53

Shock won't be expecting too much then! Great to hear of success stories too though.
Evil - I'm intrigued by your comments that the performances were self-congratulatory, I'd be interested to know more.

Freddorika · 22/02/2017 07:07

Dd is white, very pretty and goes to private school. I shan't be encouraging her to audition.

EvilTwins · 22/02/2017 07:39

error the whole thing was just a massive smug-fest - lots of alumni, some of whom are now big names, talking on stage about how NYT made their career and then applauding themselves. Not much focus on the young cast who had worked their butts off for a month creating the actual performance, which was interjected by the "names" telling their stories. Matt Smith came on to do his original NYT audition speech, but forgot it and just swore a lot… there was a lot of swearing.

My student was one of about 12 who had proper lines and characterisation in a short scene but none of the reviews mentioned anyone other than the big names, and whilst they went on and on about how it was the perfect training ground for ordinary working class kids, The amount of money it costs to audition and then be part of it makes a mockery of that.

Freddorika · 22/02/2017 08:00

Interesting. It sounds awful.

errorofjudgement · 22/02/2017 19:03

Sounds awful!

FANTINE1 · 23/02/2017 14:48

NYMT cast lists out. Lot of re casts again, especially in the older age groups.

EvilTwins · 23/02/2017 21:32

Also lots who are at full time drama college and are in their 20s. Not so much "youth"!

StillSmallVoice · 23/02/2017 21:39

DD got in on the second attempt and had the time of her life. She is now a professional theatre maker. Good luck to yours.

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