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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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:
FANTINE1 · 23/02/2017 22:27

Evil Twins,
I absolutely agree with you!
I,m afraid I had a rant last year about NYMT tweeting a picture of the person who would be cast as one of the male leads, performing a song from SA at the very theatre SA was to be performed.To my mind it just did not sit right, the tweet was published before the cast was made public. I questioned how the other auditionees felt?
I felt that I had let myself down a little by mentioning this, but I just did not think it was fair. There is another example of this this year if you go and look on Twitter.
I get quite annoyed when people talk about kids not being suitable for the role. I can accept this to a point, but it would appear from the large amount of re casts that some kids are always suitable for a role.

EvilTwins · 23/02/2017 23:15

I'm with you Fantine. So many who have been cast this year were also in last year's shows. I am sad for my student who went along to his recall (for three shows!) and has had a no for all three.

FANTINE1 · 23/02/2017 23:26

I do sympathise with him.
Is this the student who is trying for Central?
This is probably completely irrelevant, but last year, before she was accepted at Central, my D auditioned for SA. She didn't even get a recall. Fair enough, I suppose, but she had actually played the part of Wendler in her college production the previous year, so she knew the show very well.
She wrote on her form that she had performed in SA, maybe this was a mistake? I t was quite disappointing that they wouldn't even give her a recall, even for curiosity's sake.
As you say, it does leave something of a bad taste.
Good luck to your student.

errorofjudgement · 24/02/2017 17:04

It's a shame they are not promoting new talent. Surely it helps nobody to have the same people over again?
It feels like those that have the opportunities will be given more and those that don't, tough!

FANTINE1 · 25/02/2017 12:46

Error,
I fully agree with you. It would appear to be the nature of theatre/performing.
It is even worse at amateur level.

EvilTwins · 25/02/2017 16:41

It's always been like that at amateur level though - to the point that it's a joke. I remember when I was first teaching, the music teacher was involved in the local am dram society and used to get cross with the old timers because they wouldn't allow newbies to play lead roles. So they had the young romantic leads played by 40 or 50 somethings who had "done their time in the chorus". He ended up putting on a special performance of Trial By Jury and casting some of our yr 11s to prove his point. They then did HMS Pinafore and put a 40+ woman as Josephine because the girl who played The Plaintiff in Trial By Jury (who went on to be a pro opera singer) and would have been amazing, hadn't earned the right... Ridiculous. I kind of hoped the cliques would be less prevalent in the more professional world of NYT/NYMT.

FANTINE1 · 25/02/2017 17:21

Tell me[or rather my daughter] about it! She has got several t shirts! She can laugh at it now, but at the time it would irritate the life out of her.
I do think that it is so unfortunate that NYT/NYMT leave themselves open to accusations of favouritism etc. As a previous poster has already said, those who have been on the radar for a while continue to be given opportunities.
It is disingenuous to welcome all and sundry stating that they could cast each show several times over etc etc, when the reality is somewhat different.A little honesty would not go amiss!

Original poster
Dancergirl · 27/03/2017 14:01

Does anyone know when results are out? I think all the auditions are finished now.

Dd is convinced that she isn't going to get in first time but it would be nice to know!

OP posts:
errorofjudgement · 28/03/2017 18:12

I thought it was a while yet?

ArabellaRockerfella · 30/03/2017 00:16

My dd auditioned and is waiting a result. she told me it would be in May sometime!

Original poster
Dancergirl · 30/03/2017 09:17

Oh really, still a while to go then. Thanks and good luck to everyone waiting for results.

OP posts:
errorofjudgement · 30/03/2017 12:38

I went back and checked the website, they are saying they hope to have all results out by end of April

EvilTwins · 31/03/2017 21:53

I had a student audition last Saturday - he was told that they would get back to him near the beginning of April. Means I have two waiting - one year 9 who's tried for the first time and one year 13 who's gone for it 4 times now.

errorofjudgement · 01/04/2017 09:32

Felling a bit despondent about DDs chances in the PA world. It sounds as though she's unlikely to get an offer from NYT - being a white female.
She was offered a place at Tring for 6th form and attended the scholarship audition, didn't get a scholarship/bursary - the big bursary has gone to an already established actress who has appeared in 2 major movies. And has an established media profile. DD was one of only 2 candidates not already at a full time PA school.So as the cost is mega bucks we've had to turn down the offer.
All seems as though the odds are heavily stacked against her. 😟

EvilTwins · 01/04/2017 10:30

error what's she doing now? I think it's a long hard slog. I teach 6th form kids and I have some seriously talented students this year. One is in NYT, one is waiting to hear. Four have applied for drama school this year. Two have got places, two are still waiting. All of them are fully aware though that for acting, they may not get anywhere aged 18 as there is an assumption that "life experience" makes for a better drama student. The thing is, though, if they want it, they have to keep pushing. Take a year out, do some classes/workshops/extra work then try again.

EvilTwins · 01/04/2017 10:32

And btw the boy in NYT is one of the ones still waiting to get a drama school place. He's auditioning at Central next week and has a second audition at Rose Bruford, but being a member of NYT didn't help at Guildford or RADA!

errorofjudgement · 01/04/2017 12:38

Hi Evil, DD currently Y11, does Stagecoach each week, plus working on G8 LAMDA, G6 musical theatre (singing), and vocational grades in ballet and modern. Plus has a jazz scholarship with BBO.
Loves Drama, particularly drama as opposed to MT. She has scaled back (given up) 3 other dance classes to focus on GCSEs and is hoping to replace these with some local theatre stuff in September (though it's hard to find any that are accepting applications!)
Like in dance, the number of girls applying means you have to really stand out to get a place, DD is determined to do her A levels and then is quite positive about a year out. Suggestions on specific schemes, or well reputed AmDram around the West Country, or any other suggestions, would be welcome!

EvilTwins · 01/04/2017 12:56

Where are you based?

EvilTwins · 01/04/2017 12:57

I mean specifically. PM if you'd rather.

errorofjudgement · 01/04/2017 13:09

Hi Evil, just sent you a PM

NickMyLipple · 01/04/2017 13:09

This takes me back... I was (just!) 13 when I first got into NYT. 3000 young people auditioned and 80 got a place. I remember getting the letter and locking myself in the toilet shaking to find out if I'd got in. My some miracle I did! I had to do 2 audition pieces - one Shakespeare and one normal. I did midsummer night's dream (I think it was Helena's monologue) and I did Charlie and the chocolate factory with Veruca Salts monologue. This was about 15 years ago! I then had to go on a residential course in London (aged 13!!) Where I stayed during Easter and had to do 2 weeks of intense lessons followed by a showcase. I did a few bits with them after that but you have to audition every season to be part of any productions once you're in the NYT anyway so I soon lost interest. I still love drama and I am in a local amateur group.

FANTINE2 · 03/04/2017 09:56

Hi again Evil Twins.
Good luck to your student next week at Central.
Error, I am afraid it is a long, hard slog , often with lots of disappointments along the way. My daughter is at Central and I now understand what they mean when they say they want more 'life experience'. Acting courses are emotionally demanding, they sometimes require more than your average 18 year old is able to give, simply because they do not yet have the experience. They need an enormous amount of resilience.
It's not necessarily a bad thing to have at least a year doing something else, or working towards getting in.

errorofjudgement · 03/04/2017 16:56

FANTINE2 - thanks for the words of comfort.
EVIL - also echoing good luck wishes to your students still interviewing.

errorofjudgement · 03/04/2017 16:58

Evil - just wondering, do you teach all boys? If so we may have come across one of your students auditioning at Tring.

EvilTwins · 03/04/2017 18:08

error - no, mixed school, just more talented and ambitious boys than girls! None of them have auditioned for Tring though.