Congratulations to your DD - that's amazing news..!
Our daughter auditioned last year for BYMT for the first time and was cast in a show. She wasn't the youngest (turned 14 on the first day). There were others who were also 11 (including a girl from Ireland whose mum was on the 2024 BYMT mumsnet thread - which is where we found out all our info..!).
While I (dad) was fine with two weeks away, her mum/my partner was more cautious and actually stayed nearby for two weeks - she could work at a friendly partner organisation.
That said, once they are in BYMT it's full on for them - long days and hard work. They are extremely well looked after and the pastoral team were brilliant at allaying any concerns. The performers ate and slept well in between rehearsals.
There are two days off: the first is at the end of the first week and is an opportunity for you to visit and take them out for the day (strict curfew to return). We did that and used it as a birthday celebration. The second day off they all stay in camp and use it to chill or do some individual rehearsals.
My tips would be:
- Send enough clothes for two weeks (or do a swap if you see her on the day off). There's no time for laundry.
- Same for personal items (washing, personal hygiene, etc.)
- Send in extra snacks. The food where they were last year was good - university halls, but it's nice to have extra of the things you like.
- Portable games like Avocado Smash might be handy, though it sounds like they don't have stacks of free time
- Ahead of time - July I think - you will be sent a request to do a self tape of singing and acting, which your DD will need to record and return (we were WFH and had to help her do so many takes of a song!)
- The cast do an online meet and greet with each other, the BYMT and creative team. Possibly two of these I think. I think that was also in July (she was in German on a school trip and had to dial in from a youth hostel!) That was a useful intro and from that they swapped numbers - lots of them stay in touch now via Snap/Insta.
- Be prepared not to get any of the big parts - everyone will do something, and not everyone can do the big roles. Our daughter was a bit miffed at first but soon knuckled down into the role she had, which she thoroughly enjoyed - the perils of competitive children!
Our daughter is lucky enough to be back again this year (in a different show - though she does know one other girl from the show they did last year). She's really looking forward to it and we're more confident about the whole process.
Your DD will love it and want to do it forever..!
PS someone will mention Let It Snow - this is a Christmas concert where all the shows and camps come together to perform medleys to each other. Not compulsory but we went along - it was in Shoreditch Town Hall last year - and we thought it was awesome as we had a brief insight into the other shows and camps. Recommended.