NYMT / BYMT 2025

[doesanybodyhaveamap]

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

The options of skills workshops etc is quite new. When my DS first auditioned you either got in to a production or you didn’t. He was lucky in his first and second year. But in year 3 it was a no. And that was that. And it was a valuable learning process and made him come back even stronger every year since.

However, for those who don’t get cast in a production, NYMT now offers opportunities to develop and learn those skills which they made need to work on in order to be in a better position to be cast next year. Surely that is a good thing?

Even though the fees may appear high, when you break them down in terms of providing a venue, creatives, pastoral support, food/accommodation etc… it really isn’t unreasonable.

Also, just to clarify, productions have not always been in London. DS has actually only been London based in one of his shows.

You've also stated that your GD is 12. With respect, given that NYMT takes young people from age 10 to 23, she has all the time in the world to try to get into one of their shows, but of all the shows on offer this year, Fame is the one that no 12 year old, however talented, was ever going to be considered for! As another poster said, watching an NYMT show is often very close to watching a professional show. The young people involved often go on to become professional performers working in all the big West End shows. Would you pay money to watch a production of Fame in which supposedly adult characters were played by 12 year olds? Your expectations around NYMT seem rather unrealistic. I've been on these NYMT/ BYMT threads for years now and they are always supportive and informative. I don't always agree with what everybody posts but I do understand we are all parents or grandparents just wanting the best for our DC. All I ask is is that you do a bit of research around what NYMT is and is not before posting untruths, and do not allow your understandable disappointment over your GD not being cast in a show to lead you to make ill-thought-out and untrue claims in a public forum.

Echoing everything said here..and in fact the decision to put on shows NOT always in London was taken in order not to seem to be favouring young people from London and the home counties. My DS has performed with NYMT in Manchester, Leicester and London.

There are a lot more than 1100 that audition nationally, they audition in 12 cities and many more audition dates in London than anywhere else totalling to more like 1800
150 places maximum is not a lot at all in comparison.
These places could easily be offered in London alone
Like I previously mentioned if the auditions were advertised nationally predominantly for skill development courses and not big productions I doubt this would generate as much interest .
I am new to NYMT but not Musical Theatre Productions
This has certainly opened up my eyes of how flooded this industry is

That’s really good to hear, thanks. I bet your friend’s DD is thrilled!

The artistic director posted at the end of first rounds that they had seen 1100 young people.

But they don't WANT to only offer auditions to people based in London! They want everyone across the UK and Ireland to have the possibility of taking part, and they want the best talent they can find! The shows this year happen to be in Birmingham, so why would they only audition in London? You're being obtuse. Please read this thread carefully and look at all the positive testimonies from parents and consider whether it is fair to keep on posting criticism based on your own unrealistic expectations!

But yes, the industry is saturated and you need a lot of resilience to survive in it. Your GD will need a thick skin, and you won't be doing her any favours if you get incensed on her behalf and take to the Internet to badmouth the production every time she gets a no.

Ugh, can we move on now in a positive spirit?

Yes please! Enough now!

I think what has happened here is the disappointment is taking over and you’re channeling your upset in finding faults with NYMT. Trust me, I’m not judging as I’ve been in similar situations before …but I feel had your GD got into a show- you may have other opinions.

We have never been a part of NYMT. We also were offered a skills workshop. And the disappointment is REAL.

@Thinkingofthings I do believe this is still.a business, many charities also generate money .
Equally I do believe there are wonderful opportunities.
What I fail to understand is their need to predominantly advertise National Auditions based on parts in productions like Fame at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre as apposed to Skills Development Workshops ??
In reality this is what most participants only get offered even after castings auditions.
150 places fir castings in either Productions ie: Fame and a few others, together with New Musicals Workshops (incidentally not sure if there is a staged show involved with New Musicals Workshops as there is little clarity provided )
Calculating the amount of auditinonees Nationally that must equate to close to 1800, these is very little real opportunities apart from the skills workshops which get offered to everyone.
It's very disheartening when a young person is offered a castings workshop to which travelling to London is very expensive especially of you are coming from Glasgow or Ireland.
That young performer gets turned down and is subsequently offered a skills workshop the same as everyone who didn't get through.
If a young performer is offered a castings workshop after attending a 7 hour audition, that young performer should be offered a casting place.
I feel there is no where near the clarity by NYMT when young performers audition for these things.
I attended an initial 7 hour audition with my GD I got into conversations with many parents who had returned for the second time after not getting a casting audition the year previous. The mis matched information they were all lead to believe about the process is phenomenal.
I've only realised it myself from these threads.
I feel it's quite unfair and on the verge of misleading by NYMT.
I have no doubt that performers that are picked for castings and productions have the most incredible time.
From my experience I believe more realistic clarity regarding the audition process to include how many are actually cast each year is crucial to both young performers and parents in order that they can make a more rational decision whether to apply for initial audition .
I also believe NYMT have an absolute duty to provide this information.
I truly wish everyone well and send the best of wishes to all those that have been successfully given casting and performing opportunities.
For me I've been totally educated and will pass that education on to my 12 year experienced MT Public Performer in Lead Roles , Adult shows for a well known Hotel Chain since she was 7 years old.
I will ensure what her expectations are when applying for similar auditions in the future

I would love to know the answer to this as well, please. Thank you.

Are the creatives as impressive with BYMT? And also, is it still good to put on spotlight profiles if it’s easier to get into?

@Mariaamariaa I still don't understand your gripe. From the outset I knew the chances of a show are small. However this is the world of performing arts. If you read the information correctly , we knew the score when we entered the process and in the recall email it was made dlear that several outcomes were possible.

I think maybe your child or grandchild did not share this information with you?

And why should they not advertise in a way to attract people? They want to be able to choose from a pool of talented young people.

I must admit I only heard of NYMT two years ago when it was too late for that year. And the year after, I didn't want DD to take time away from her GCSE's for the easter rehearsals so we didn't participate.

I feel the process has been fairly transparent but perhaps you don't know as you are not fully aware of the communications

I understand your frustration and disappointment- it's very hard to get knock backs. And yes it's a time consuming and expensive business if the result isn't what you'd hoped for. From my experience though families would do the same for professional shows where your end result could be nothing at all. We once did 4 weekends in a row to London with several round of cuts on each weekend for a professional show. We live three hours away by train. It was an incredibly expensive experience. We met families on that who were willing to cut short holidays abroad and fly back early tp attend recalls with the knowledge that they could end up with nothing. The odds on that show ended up being over 1000 children nationwide auditioning for 5 parts.
NYMT really do need to audition nationally as they are a NATIONAL company. It would be very wrong of them to audition only in London for example. And logistically if you audition that number of people for 5 shows you can't just cast them from one audition. It must be a nightmare as it is as- from only being in the waiting room at the recalls I could hear the level of talent coming from the rooms.
The offering of skills courses is actually a bonus- most times you are just left with nothing! You could do rounds and rounds of professional auditions, get down to the last 5 and then be cut. It's brutal but that's the business. I think you are underestimating how hard it is to cast 5 shows. I'm surprised they can do it from just two auditions to be honest.

Hi yes
She was invited to a castings workshop but has been rejected and subsequently offered development skills courses which are offered to everyone that auditions.
I'm new here and feel incredibly disappointed with the lack of clarity from NYMT regarding their audition process and not being open about how little castings places are available (150) considering the vast close to 1800 young performers who audition nationally.
After an initial 7 hour audition I would have thought that would be enough time to evaluate who would be suitable for castings positions without call backs in London to then be let down.
My 12 year old GD has performed lead roles with an adult musical theatre company, consistently publicly performed with them during their contract for a well know hotel chain for 7 years as well as adult theatre productions.
She doesn't appear to be worthy of even an ensemble role with NYMT even though they clearly saw during initial audition what she is capable of.
My priority is to protect my GD's mental wellbeing right now
Everything she has done and continues to do I will not allow that type of rejection to mess with her confidence.
I have been totally educated here and feel that NYMT have a much wider duty to young performers and their parents by bringing much clearer clarity to the audition process, expectations and actual casting opportunity numbers (150)
Equally , I do believe that those that are fortunate to be given casting and performance opportunities experience the most wonderful time and I wish all of them every happiness and success.

Once offers go out, we usually turn to ‘how many towels?’
Let’s discuss that

Yes your right the comminucatuins are very vague from the onset of advertising first auditions
I am incredibly grateful for this thread as I have learnt a huge amount during this short experience .
By the way it was ne that saw this audition advertisement and pursued it as my GD is only 12 years old.
She performs regularly with an Adumt Musical Theatre Company playing lead roles for a Hotel Chain for the past 5 years since she was 7 years old as well as Adult Theatre Productions
Nymt don't feel she's worthy of even ensemble in any of their many productions.
Right now my priority is protecting her emotional wellbeing after such a rejection in comparison to what she has done and continues to do .
My belief is that they should hugely cut down the castings and productions recalls are there are only 150 opportunities across them all out of close on 1800 young people that apply and audition .

Or whether towels are indeed required at all 😂 I remember packing so much for DS last year he hardly wore any of them 🫣 but DD would send me photos of her daily outfits 😂😂

@Mariaamariaa I wonder if sticking with the great work your GD is already doing in the hotel chain is perhaps the answer. Many on here have already shared how much NYMT has provided such brilliant opportunities for their kids, so I think we can trust that. But perhaps it isn't for anyone.

Back to towels...

Sorry - I meant EVERYONE...😂

I am new to NYMT so have no experience to offer other than these rounds. My DD has had a lot of disappointment to deal with over the years and still does. What we find is the more no’s you get the quicker you end up bouncing back once you realise that this really is the reality in this industry.

my DD was lucky to get into a show this time but her drive was to get in front of a professional casting team which is hard at 16/17 as over 18’s or young looking over 20’s are much more employable. The experience of a whole day on the different disciplines is the first workshop was a good experience and she met some lovely friends.
The recall was a privilege to get in front of those creatives. We travel from the North and there is not so much on offer except amateur companies.

Disappointment is real and it is hard to process when you feel your DC’s pain. Could have another whole thread on supporting children in performing arts with this.

An example I have is last night my DD did the west end calling heat and didn’t get through but got into the final last year. Their performance was beautiful and no corrections for their performance from the judges. One of the judges even came up after and said I can’t wait to see where you go and what you do. Confusing for her as she didn’t get through and was in the finals last year. But this is reality. I’m not going to talk bad about WEC because she had the best time last year and my DD is going to be the toughest kid picking up and carrying on improving.
reality as said above is there are so so so many kids who want to do this - the no’s are more than the yeses. The DC need to process THEIR feelings and then move onto something new. Everyone has different opinions on what their cast would like like- the benefit in the arts!

I find things I can do to channel sadness and frustration…. So I don’t put my feelings on her.
i wish I still ran but busy mum of 4! But I am sure you have your self care stuff to reach out to.
Your DC will be fine once they learn it’s only a few persons’ perspectives on what they were looking for. Find her a project and some skills to work on even if that is an NYMT course or something different. Let’s face it there is a ton of choice for MT training.

@Mariaamariaa i meant YOU have either not read the information and interpreted it correctly or did not have access to the info as it may have gone to your GD's parent. The rest of us on here seems to have understood from the start that there was little chance of success.

"Even" to get a role in ensemble is a great achievement actually as my DD and others on here have told me

Can I check has anyone in a show received their invoices yet please?