NYMT / BYMT 2025

[doesanybodyhaveamap]

Starting off a new thread for 2025 now that both organisations have opened applications for next season!

@allhailthebrain any congrats to your DC.

As for where they split the age groups, I think it all depends on who has booked on the day and then where they fall in the age range when they split into 3 equal-sized groups. No more to it than that really. The London auditions can be older on average as many of the vocational training schools that the 18+ auditionees come from are in and around London. If they had a lot of young adults it may have pushed younger 6th formers down into middle group.

Thanks for the reply! Yes the offer is specifically for Lightning Boy. I have to say the language they use in the email sort of suggests that they are in the show and just have to have their part cast. I appreciate that isn't the case but I can't help but think it would be fairer and easier to manage expectations if they did refer to it as a callback or a recall or even just an audition. A casting workshop makes it sound like a done deal. Just mah 2p :)

Congratulations! Which two shows are they called back for? Also did your DC do TPOC last year with BYMT? Wondering if our DC know each other x

Thank you - Carousel and Tuck 🙂
Ah no, they've never actually done a BYMT show, though they've had offers, it never worked out timing wise. Feel free to PM me though as you never know, they may have come across each other!

It took us a while to work it out last year, but yes it isn't a done deal - it can't be as so many people get more than one recall, and they haven't even seen them do any material from the show yet...
Mine has been offered the new musical workshops on several occasions, following recalls, as have others we know. Sometimes it's genuinely because they think they are a great fit for a part in that workshop (again, happened to mine...)

I just think it would be so much easier to manage expectations if they referred to it as a second round audition or similar. A line direct from the email " The casting will take place at Arts Ed" which to me reads that they are in the show and just need to have the roles assigned.

Of course this is me viewing it from the perspective of having done BYMT in which you are offered a show and then get cast later!

Break a leg to everyone auditioning this weekend! We’re off to Newcastle tomorrow. Don’t usually get up there unless we’re going to the theatre so looking forward to wandering around while DS is busy

I agree it is a bit confusing and I wish they put some kind of disclaimer line in the email about a place in the show isn’t guaranteed at this point - just to make it explicit what to expect. Especially since DD even came out of the audition under the impression that if you get a recall then you will be in a show, the words she remembered were ‘we just need to work out exactly where you fit’.
However, I just watched the instagram live that @Wigeon shared the other day and the way they phrase it there is that the 2 possible outcomes from an audition is to be put down the skills workshop pathway or the casting pathway. On one hand that makes it sound like if you get the casting workshop then you will be cast in something (show or new musical workshop), rather than a skills workshop. But on the other hand, in the real world it’s very normal to go through several rounds of casting and still end up with no role in any show. So, I’m still no clearer really.

i think there are more recalls this year? They are happening over 4 days whereas in the past people have referred to a recall weekend. But then there are more new musical workshops to cast this year. I also noticed that some of the new musical workshops are non-residential which is a bit of a bummer.

I agree that the wording/ phrases they use can be a bit ambiguous. Last year my DC was recalled for ‘one of our new musicals’. No mention of workshop! I had to clarify what that meant as it could’ve been interpreted as being one of the main, fully staged shows. They ended up being offered a residential invite only advanced skills workshop…..so that’s another possible outcome. With so many new musical workshops being offered this year there are more opportunities which is great. However, many of them are non residential so it will be a different kind of experience. Best of luck to everyone auditioning over the weekend!

Also - off topic slightly… does anyone’s DC attend The Brit School? My DC has another recall at the end of the month and would love some feedback from anyone already there. Feel free to DM me so the thread isn’t hijacked. Thank you!

I totally get it, and they could be clearer on potential outcomes.

I think the problem is that the word casting these days is just another term for audition. In some ways it's clearer than when they used to call this the "finals".

Nowhere have they said or told them if they get a recall they definitely get a show - but kids hear and process information differently, and the part where the "new musicals" workshops is part of that is heard as "shows" - and I can totally understand that.

So many people don't get a recall, remember they've all done fantastically well! Do not underestimate being cast in a new musical workshop with NYMT. Any programme you read for big name professionals will list their shows AND their workshops, they're an important and big part of the industry and a really great learning experience - as well as a chance to show them more of what you can do. Go for it!

For me a big part of the wording issue is the first stage is referred to as an "audition workshop" and then the next stage as a "casting workshop".... the change in language somewhat suggests the audition stage is over.

I feel it would be better to refer to the second stage as a "second stage audition workshop" or "recall workshop" or "audition workshop for X show/project" to make it clearer that this is still part of the audition process.

Most of our kids are pretty resiliant, and understand even being asked back is a huge deal. We are thrilled to even be heading in to the second stage for sure x

I understand what you're saying, and I agree it's not crystal clear.

For the avoidance of any misunderstandings, I think it's safe to say that if you are invited to a casting workshop for a named show, there are two possible outcomes. One is that you are cast in the show. The other possibility is that you don't get a place in that show, but you do get cast in a new musical workshop. These are totally different from the skills courses offered to some auditionees. As @allhailthebrain mentioned above, a role in a workshop is still a significant achievement, and recognition of the talent you displayed in auditions that led to you being recalled. New musicals don't end up on the professional stage without a workshopping process, and performers who are cast in industry workshops can and do list them on their professional CVs and Spotlight pages. Another benefit to an actor of taking part in a workshop is that if the workshop is considered successful and the show gets picked up by a producer, quite often the actors who originated the roles in the workshop do get cast in the show. It has been known at NYMT for a new musical to be workshopped one summer and then staged the following year - in some cases with young actors from the workshop in really good roles because the creatives liked what they did the previous summer. It's also a chance to have some experience of and input into the creative process. So whilst it's disappointing that a recall to the casting workshop doesn't guarantee that you will be in a show, if you're not cast in the show it doesn't mean you went to the recall for nothing!

So these would be the same workshops as offered after the firsg audition?

the workshops offered after the first audition are traditional workshops in the form of performing arts classes.

to workshop a new musical means to work with the bare bones of some of the songs & a bit of script and develop it with the writers & directors. So you find out what works and what doesn’t before an actual production. Sometimes the writers are making alterations to the script & songs as you go along.

Its a process all professional shows go through.

No! You can't get cast in a new musical workshop without going to the recalls.( I'm calling them recalls for clarity.)
What is offered to those who attend first rounds and don't get recalled are skills courses. Different things.

Does anyone know what to do if your YP missed their connection and is late for their audition? This is for BYMT

Oh dear, sorry to read this. Probably too late for advice now, but I'd always go anyway and just be very polite and hope they could include you anyway.

Thanks @Biscuitsneeded . She was distraught but I think she made it just in time. Will find out when I pick her up from the station.
I mean if she did what she was meant to, would have arrived there leisurely with time to spare but as usual thought she knew better. Will be interesting to know how the audition went as she literally ran there so would have been breathless and dishelved on arrival.

So much exciting news, congratulations to all the young people! I'm going to drive up today - any suggestions of local-ish places I could take younger DC while older one auditions?
I saw the transport depot museum, and gunnersmith park.

Uh-oh, disaster, DC thought she only had to prepare the excerpts and doesn't have 2 pieces prepared. Eek! Communication failure... She's got one excellent one but the other is a bit rusty

The only thing that needs to be prepared for NYMT, as far as I'm aware, is a song with sheet music. There's a bit of script I believe but I've been told they have copies there and nobody is expected to have learnt it.

My son is at ArtsEd today and also hasn't prepared any of the scripts....do you mean a singing piece? I also thought it was 1 song.

Oh - she's applying as a musician. Needs two solo pieces and to have prepared the excerpts, plus participate in a workshop.
The staff were lovely, and helped put her mind at ease. I'm sure her lack of preparedness will count against her though.

I'm sure if they are keen on her they will be able to ask for a second piece by self tape or something. Don't worry. I'm sure it won't be held against her.