NYMT/BYMT 2024!

[Biscuitsneeded]

Seeing as NYMT have announced their shows, it feels like a good time to start a thread for anyone with DC planning on auditioning for 2024 for either NYMT or BYMT - as performers or musicians, or as assistant creatives. Please come and say hi and tell us a bit about your DC. There are lots of experienced parents of DC who have been part of both organisations, and these threads are always genuinely supportive and helpful.
I'll invite some previous thread participants below - please come and say hi!

HUGE congrats to the musicians! ITW is so lucky to have you, great achievement!!

@LibbyRuncie I would agree with what's been said. I have generally steered clear of the franchises. My experience (through friends) is they're not at the same level (granted, standards will vary!). I saw lots of videos of "this is what we've done this term and now here they all are pretending to be cats" - in a community centre with somebody's gran holding up their whole ipad in front of your phone - nobody's watching, they're all filming 😁 (I'm not saying which franchise this was!).
We found a great little stage school as part of the local theatre and they were the best start we could have had! Led to so much more. Learned dance separate as well.
If you're midlands way, I know another NYMT friend has just got into BOA for next year and is over the moon! She trains with Emil Dale associates (that's their proper associate programme which is auditioned - not their weekend lessons kind of thing!) once a month and a company regularly called, I think, Kristian Thomas....? They seem very high standard. It could be worth looking into those if they're doable.

Biscuits to those still waiting on BYMT, you are not forgotten!!

@allhailthebrain the cats 😂🙄🤦‍♀️ we certainly don’t want that! Ha!!!
i ve already been checking out options in Birmingham! I am thinking when she is a bit older (she’s only 12 now) this might be exactly what she needs and wants!

@LibbyRuncie not sure where you are based but I agree with @allhailthebrain SOTE in Birmingham seem to be smashing it in audition season with their students this year. KT (Kristian Thomas) are run by some absolutely fab people - it’s near junction 24 of the M1.

Hi @OMITN
So delighted to hear about your DD. My DD also got a place in When we Strike. It was also her first time auditioning she is only 11 turning 12 in July. She is so looking forward to it.. me on the otherhand I'm quite nervous 🫣.We are from Ireland so I am not sure how this works either but I am getting great comfort from this thread. The overall consensus is they have a great time doing what they love. What age is your daughter?

Hi, does anyone have any insight into the NYMT open day next week? My 12 year old is thinking about auditioning next year so we thought we might go and have a look, but it's 2 hours from us so not really sure if it's worth the travelling.

Hi @TheOliveSwan I didn't want to leave your post unanswered. From what I understand from the social media posts, the Open Day will include a chance to take part in a workshop, observe a rehearsal and meet some of the NYMT team (who are lovely!). I'm fairly sure you and your DC would enjoy the day and they would leave determined to audition next year. A 2 hour journey isn't a no-brainer, though, so if you feel it's too far to go this time you could always buy a ticket to one of the shows in the summer once they're on sale - I think you get a pretty good feel for the organisation from that too. Happy to answer any questions you may have in the meantime.

Thanks @Biscuitsneeded that's a good idea to get tickets to a show, Into the Woods is a firm favourite anyway so always worth a watch. I'll be honest, I'm keen for her to have a go at auditioning, she's reluctant because she's a bit worried about the staying away from home aspect. I might make the trip for the open day because it would probably help her decide if it's for her, or not yet.

Can I ask a packing question please! Do you send your DCs in with any medications ie paracetamol? Or will pastoral team have some if they did have a headache or something!??

The pastoral team will have painkillers, sticking plasters, throat lozenges etc. One thing that might be useful is lipsalve. If you want your DC to have their own supply of meds, you can name the packet and pastoral can look after it. DS always used to take hay fever meds with him to Easter residentials, and while he was still little I think pastoral remained in charge of them.

@TheOliveSwan I'm sure they will be more than happy to talk to you/your DD on the Open Day about boarding. It's entirely natural to feel some trepidation about the idea of a residential with lots of people you don't know - all I can say is the NYMT kids usually arrive mid-morning on Day 1, and by bedtime they all seem to feel like they have made a whole bunch of friends!

What??? Doesn’t everyone pack a frisbee to go to NYMT for a week!

@LibbyRuncie that's a good idea for when they're not called. Frisbees, footballs etc always go down well.

Just popping on to wish Team NYMT Easter residentials a great time. It feels weird that DS isn't going (he's doing Platform and they only have a summer residential). I hope all the DC have a wonderful experience - looking forward to hearing about it!

DD2 all packed (minus the frisbee) and off to the Airport shortly!! She’s so excited!! Best of luck to everyone ❤️

Have a great week all those heading to Sevenoaks. Those on our house have being requested to bring a load of weird and wonderful things so I just thought a frisbee was perfectly reasonable 😂

Hi! I can echo what Biscuits said - but, given your reply I think I would go to the open day. That's because they will actually see where they might stay, see what kind of things they get up to and whether they'd enjoy it - and if there's a workshop even better. She'll also get a chance to meet some of the team and that would, I imagine, also be quite reassuring. I think you'd get a good idea of how keen she'd be if you did it.

Mine will be there, in with the Catastrophe Bay crowd - enjoy if you go!

Ha, no frisbee but mine has packed "one night ultimate werewolf" - which we bought for Christmas and subsequently found out our kid actually discovered this game at NYMT when they first did a residential!

@LibbyRuncie and others - maybe give them a little money or a way to access it. Because in the past they've had a little shop where the kids have bought an NYMT t shirt or other bits - though that may just be in summer, when they also sold posters for a couple of pounds.

Hope everyone at Sevenoaks has a fantastic week!

Hope rehearsals go brilliantly NYMT gang! We’ve just had another waitlist email from BYMT so more torturous waiting to enjoy…..! Thankfully DC is handling it relatively well as they’ve been enjoying other performing opportunities of late. Have you heard anything @wonderfullife123 ? I hope you’ve had better news!

Hi @Mumster40 was just going to ask you- my DC was just offered a place, I'm sorry you didn't get better news on this round but just to reassure my other DC finally got her offer last year in May. They seem to be motoring through quite quickly and there does always seem to be a lot of movement. Keeping everything crossed your DC gets good news at the next round. It's so torturous I agree.

@wonderfullife123 that’s great news! Congratulations to your DC. Good to hear that there’s some movement at least! Which show did she get offered? I think we will just try and forget about it now and if something turns up it will be a nice surprise x

@Mumster40 thank you! She has been offered a place on Welcome to Serene. That sounds like a good shout - I'm pretty sure there is movement till as late as June so plenty of time still. Great that there are other opportunities to absorb energies! x

NYMT crew hope all goes swimmingly for the Easter rehearsals!

Wonderful news @wonderfullife123! My DD is looking forward to the May workshop and was keen to be there for the first night's dinner so she can meet everyone. Hang in there @Mumster40 . Good luck to everyone at Sevenoaks.

@yodaforpresident oops! Hadn't read the doc properly or noticed the May workshop. That's quite exciting. Better check my other DD show doesn't have the same!

Congrats to yours @wonderfullife123 !

Passes the best biscuits to @Mumster40 - hang in there!!