NYMT / BYMT 2021

[doesanybodyhaveamap]

Starting a new thread for NYMT / BYMT hopefuls in 2021.

DD13 is auditioning for NYMT for the second time as stage performer and as musician. We just received an invite to the next round (online workshops).

She was gutted that Covid put a stop to her show (Imaginary) last year so we are keeping everything crossed that she gets another shot.

We've also booked a BYMT audition and she's already in the musician pool there so hopefully a show of some sort this year if we get some kind of normality back again...

Anyone else out there?

Heard about what @Newgirls? Some on here have heard about recall workshops, and some have both heard and done them, but some have recently submitted videos and are waiting for news and others are waiting for news post-workshop! It is a bit confusing... What stage is your DC at?

Ah I see!! All sorts of stages!!

My dd sent in her videos for both maybe two weeks ago now? So wondering when she might here next for a recall workshop i guess?

What about hearing nos? Does everyone here at once or over weeks?

It's all a bit different this year and people seem to be getting news in batches dependent roughly on date of submission, but you should definitely hear something. They are nice and wouldn't leave you wondering indefinitely. We still have several friends who haven't heard anything yet since submitting in late Feb, so my guess is there will be another wave of emails next week.

Thank you biscuits really appreciated x

@doesanybodyhaveamap BYMT does normal say shows are between 18/7 and 1/9. But if you get allocated a show you can't do you can apply for a transfer.
2019 DD's show finished on 1/9 Scottish participates were able to class it as educated off site for absence purposes.

Hi All, here is DDs verdict on her workshop yesterday.

She really enjoyed it! Dance was hard, she thinks she did ok, but she’s weaker on that than singing/acting. The script work was fun - she’s just worried she didn’t ‘act’ enough - she didn’t want to overdo it, so wonders if she under did it, if that makes sense!

I think she’s not feeling that confident of getting any further, but we will just have to wait now. 😬

Any news for those still waiting to hear about their tapes? 🤞

@DalekFan Glad she enjoyed it. I think everybody finishes up a bit unsure of how it went. Well done to her, and good luck with the waiting!

Ahhh well done miniDalek. I think quite a few are finding the dance challenging (my DD sure did). Welcome to the waiting room.... 😖

Hi - what would you say is the main difference between NYMT and BYMT and what the young people get out of the experience?

From posts further up this thread I see that BYMT are honouring castings made last year but in a normal year am I right in thinking that there is more chance of some kind of role in BYMT than NYMT in terms of the number of productions put on?

Also NYMT - does anyone know at all in a normal year how may people audition compared to how many are cast? Trying to work out if this is a pipe dream and she should be auditioning for eveyrthing else at the same time too.
Thanks.

Hi @2020again . @Biscuitsneeded is more of an expert than I am but in normal years, NYMT run 4 shows: a touring show in June/July for which the residential rehearsals are over the Easter holidays, and three full scale productions in the summer. In addition they run a workshop of a new musical in development. Usually each project has around 30-40 stage performers I believe (from totting up numbers in previous programmes!!). Last year I recall there being around 1000 applicants. Roles are specifically cast during the audition process. Normally this is in 2 stages: live workshop then recalls.

This year there is no touring show, so one less production but the cast for hunchback will be bigger and better have a stage choir giving roughly the same sized company. I've no idea how many will have submitted this year! Trying to gauge DD's chances and failing dismally...

BYMT run a couple more shows and I think the overall company is a bit bigger in a normal year. This year they have carried shows and places over from last year but added in a couple of extra shows to provide opportunities for this years applicants. They offer places in a show but don't cast until rehearsals start, so are generally more flexible about movement between shows if you can't make certain dates etc..

Superfluous 'better'. Should say cast for hunchback will be bigger and will have a stage choir!

I think it's all pretty much what @doesanybodyhaveamap said! And also as @Lonecatwithkitten pointed out upthread, BYMT write or commission all their own shows so they don't have to get licences, whereas NYMT tend to have a mix of new commissions (some of which then go to make rights available and get legs of their own as musicals other companies can put on eg Battle of Boat, Imaginary and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow) and established shows (eg in recent years Parade, Anything Goes etc). I can't say much about BYMT as DS has never done it (although he did audition one year and loved the audition, got offered a show but couldn't do because he had already accepted an NYMT role - so a very positive experience as far as it went!). But I think either would be a load of fun and a great experience, both the residential and the show experience, and certainly there's no harm in auditioning for both and seeing what happens! DS has several friends who have done both and enjoyed both. Overall I think the chances of getting in must be a bit greater with BYMT as they have more shows, but the standard of both is very high. If you want to know a bit more, you can listen to cast recordings from some shows - I know BYMT released a cast recording of Tess of the d'Urbervilles which I think @minimits' son was in, and my own DS was very lucky to get cast recordings of Battle of Boat (recorded in studio) and Imaginary and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (recorded live in the theatre at a performance). I'm totally identifiable by now so be nice .

I think there is a quite a difference in NYMT and BYMT-DS has done four years with BYMT but each show was completely different in terms of process and standard. He was indeed at Tess at The Other Palace and his very young voice can be heard in the cast recording. He was really lucky as it was his first show with them, got a good little part and it is the only year they then transferred a couple of the shows from regional theatres to The Other Palace. I would say the main difference is BYMT is inevitably easier to get in as they do way more shows. They also take children who they think are a good standard generally and they form a company from which they then cast the roles. NYMT have specific roles but you may be amazing but not get in as you don’t fit the show. BYMT is all about new commissions rather than traditional MT shows. The bigger BYMT shows have a casting weekend in May half-term but the others are cast at the beginning of the rehearsal period. DS isn’t going for BYMT now as he finds it frustrating not knowing what he will be doing until he’s committed to the show, unlike NYMT when he knew once he got in exactly who he was. Unfortunately with the last BYMT show he had very little to do in the rehearsal weeks and felt like he learnt very little. That was just the nature if the show unfortunately. I know he was lucky to get in but he just feels he needs to challenge himself and try something new. He has however learnt a lot from BYMT and it taught him a lot about professionalism and collaboration.

Apologies for the terrible grammar! Late night after driving DS back to London for college and certainly can see the effects on my post .

Just reflecting a little on BYMT being easier to get into.. interestingly that went our experience last year. DD auditioned for both companies, as stage performer and as musician. Son essentially 4 bites at the cherry. She was offered a place as stage performer by NYMT (she must have been a reserve as was initially turned down after recalls) but not BYMT. Both companies wanted her as musician. BYMT did ask whether she'd prefer musician or performer and she did say musician to them so I'm not sure of that had any bearing on it. She was also really struggling with colds/flu (maybe even covid) around audition time. So who knows. I guess that's a very long way of saying it's not always the case that you are more likely to get BYMT than NYMT!

Yes on reflection I was wrong to say easier- I should have said there are more opportunities and spaces for BYMT. Apologies!

Oh, none taken @minimits ! Was just sharing a slightly different experience 😊 Essentially, the standard is really high for both. I think we're all agreed there!!!

Absolutely

Thank you so much all of you - this is all really helpful information for a parent with no experience of either.

@2020again which stage of waiting are you at currently...??

Agreed with @2020again very useful info for newbies to both.

I'm not very patient so the wait is driving me slightly loopy. Still looking for other opportunities for my DD as the local amdram she has performed with aren't doing any shows in 2021 and the one that cancelled her May show are now doing an adult show .

@chaperonemum I'm so with you... I need like to know exactly what the plan is so any element of uncertainty drives me bonkers. With two kids who are both v musical as well as being into MT, there's lots of juggling to be done....

Just a quick update from this end. Still no news since submitting. Not that I’m chasing btw. Just in case anyone else hasn’t heard either!

Update here too. No news since submitting video. Hoping it will be this week!