NYMT / BYMT 2025

[doesanybodyhaveamap]

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

To put professional casting ratios in to perspective for you... This month Keston and Keston received 14,000 first round audition tapes for perhaps 20 roles.

14,000 for 20 roles

Not yet!

@MxPickles I have the impression @Mariaamariaa expected her GD to be a shoo in as it's only NYMT and not a professional outfit like the one she has been a lead in for the past 7 years.

Jordan Li Smith who wrote Armchair (performed by NYMT) is doing The Glamification of Loki for BYMT this year.

IMO the standard of both organisations have parity. Some folks have a preference for one company over another tho as people do with almost everything in life!

In previous years I would have said the only realy difference is that BYMT produce New Musicals and NYMT on existing material. This seems to be changing this year tho with NYMT introducing more New Muscial Workshops.

ETA. I also dont think that BYMT is "easier" to get in to. They have a similar number of auditionees (I think I saw on socials BYMT saw 1300 this year) for approximately the same number of shows/places. The only difference in the BYMT casting process is for the most part that they are able to be more flexible on casting "type" as the roles are not as fixed as in established musicals.

Using this years shows as an example... there was only ever gonna be one Winnie Foster and the odds for getting that role are musch much slimmer compared to say getting an ensemble role in a NYMT or a BYMT show. (That example is as clear as mud, but hopefully you understand what I am getting at)

@Mariaamariaa you need to stop. The things you have posted are tantamount to accusing NYMT of fraud in some places. In others your figures and vague criticisms accuse them of lying. Enough.
Whatever you "calculated" (you must have done a heck of a lot of research on the capacity of every audition space!) they saw around 1100 applicants. Not your made up figure. They are a not for profit business which has to operate under many rules, they're not there to scam money.

What both NYMT and BYMT do in providing opportunities ALL OVER the UK and Ireland is an important and intrinsic part of what they do. So many kids are completely excluded from professional roles because they don't live in London. I cannot believe your suggestion to cancel that! And I notice you've missed out all the opportunities for musicians - and writers of new british musical theatre too.

I suggest that if you think this process is so awful, you compare it to a professional one. Matilda for example. Seriously, go and try and then see what you think. Heads up though, they don't even know themselves how many kids they're hiring at that point. And thousands more will go for it, for a lot less roles than NYMT. And it's a public reading out of names in the room - if yours isn't one of them, bye!

Out first experience with NYMT was a course. One which was advertised and we chose to pay and do. It was brilliant! They knew my child by name from day one, they were kind and encouraging and gave useful feedback. The kids worked with a west end star! So yes they advertised it and the people came. They have a good enough reputation to do that and the training is top notch. So yes they do advertise courses. And people go. They also advertise for those who want to try for the shows. It's a choice to enter that process.

You need to accept that unfortunately your GD didn't make it this year. Somebody else was either better, or fit the roles better. That's reality in performing arts. You are under NO obligation to take the skills course. The best advice we ever got was to treat every audition as a workshop and enjoy it as you're getting to work with the best! You got value for money in this industry and more in this process - I'm sorry it wasn't the result you wanted. We've been there.

That's interesting Mx - in the past BYMT did a lot more shows than NYMT - do they do less now?
I always got the impression they had more flexibility because the rights to the shows were their own. So there wasn't transparency over how many shows because once they saw the kids and how many hit their standard, they could then flex how many shows they might put on. Which I see as a strength!

As you say, everyone favours one or the other. I think both do a great job! They're both important - and as much for the opportunity for writers to have their work progressed as for performing or musically talented kids.

BYMT announced their 25 season before the in person audtions, so for this year at least they headed in to auditions knowing they were casting one Easter Show and Five Summer Shows. So maths wise, they saw slightly more people, but have one more show so the odds of a production purely on maths are the same for both organisations.

Also made a mistake in my prev post... this year Jordan Li Smith is working on Theo Inbetween not Loki. My bad sorry.

I also think that young people tend to want to continue to do NYMT post 18 whereas this possibly (?) isn't so much the case with BYMT? For a show like Fame, the age range is likely to be around 16 to 23 - so huge congrats to the 16 and 17 year olds who got a place - and many of the older ones will be in professional training. Of course the other shows all have spaces for younger kids and mid-teens too by their nature (Snow children in Carousel, kids in Tuck, Lightning Boy created for a range of ages, Crescendo specifically for the teens) but they will.also have some older young people who are post 18. Correct me if I'm wrong but I feel the typical age range for BYMT stops around 18 or 19?

Also ETA I am absolutely sure the participants in BYMT and NYMT all have a fabulous time and learn loads, and we know the shows are great because parents on this thread are always so impressed.

That's much more transparent @MxPickles - a good development I'd say! I know Lewis Cornay had a piece with them a couple of years back so both organisations continue to attract good people to write for them!

I guess NYMT now has 4 shows plus Crescendo and Platform. Then the workshops - I'm interested to see how that develops next year and what their intention is going forward.

Officially BYMT's upper age limit is 21 but yes, I think it would be a fair observation that they attract lots of participants from college age students.

I’m guessing once all the accept declines have been processed you’ll get a link then to the payment method. It’s pretty straightforward then 👍

Can you DM me as well please x

@allhailthebrain
How dare you make such accusations about my experience who the hell do you think you are ???
I along with many other parents have had no real clue of the audition process and selections due to lack of information on the NYMT website .
If you read through my other thread you will clearly see that on first audition I was speaking with other parents returning for the second time as their child had no success the year prior .
The mis information and beliefs they were under is far from reality for example one parent actually thought that the rehearsals for the shows this year were all actually taking place in the Birmingham Hippodrome.
I have spent hours scouring the Internet looking for answers to the procedures , processes and what happens if a child is not cast after casting workshop.
I couldn't find anything anywhere.
Therefore have stipulated How grateful I am for this thread this is the only place I've found out the correct information needed unlike a number of families I spoke to and have returned for the second time non the wiser.
Yes I do believe NYMT should make these process and informations with better understanding and clarity as evidentially I'm not the only parent who has been totally confused and frustrated by it all.
Just because you have personally had more involvement and have a greater understanding does not give you the right to make accusations against me.
Don't ever pass judgement either upon my 12 year old GD!!!
I personally fail to see how her abilities as an experienced MT Performer with adults who have been contracted to a hotel chain for the past 7 years on a regular basis together with her grade 7 soprano mezzo mature voice and many adult MT productions in theatres was not spotted for her abilities . In fact she wasn't even offered an ensemble position. I personally do have to raise certain questions in my opinions which I have an absolute right to do so.
My priority right now is her emotional wellbeing as children and young teenagers don't have the capacity to deal with that type of rejection. My aim is to ensure this doesn't take its toll on her confidence with her continuing professional performances.
As you can clearly see from my threads that I don't have the understanding and I'm not the only parent either.
I believe NYMT should be making things clearer especially to newcomers
I am not criticising the way in which they teach or the opportunities they offer to successful participants in fact again re read my posts I have repeatedly genuinely wished them all well.
Now if you don't mind I'm asking that you don't make any further comments on my threads I won't be party to your wrongful accusations about me.

@doesanybodyhaveamap it says I am not able to receive private messages at the mo .... but seems lots are curious about the competition between BYMT and NYMT!

"How dare you make such accusations about my experience"
I didn't...?

"Don't ever pass judgement either upon my 12 year old GD!!!"
Again, I didn't? I said on this occasion someone else got the part because they were either better or fitted the role. That's not a judgement, she's clearly very talented or she wouldn't have the experience she does or have got a recall in this process. I'm sorry you took that as a judgement on her talent as that's not what was intended.

You're also absolutely correct in putting her mental wellbeing as top priority, as should we all with our children/grandchildren.

Gin and cake anyone? I feel we need something stronger now.

DD(13) has done shows with BYMT and NYMT and found them both enormous fun and learned a lot, although exhausting! She has made firm friends at both.

She has auditioned for NYT for the first time this year, which I think only has an acceptance rate of 5%, so not holding out a lot of hope there - that LAMDA piece is definitely known now though 😂.

@yodaforpresident cake is an excellent idea - why did nobody think of that sooner?!

Same here, but I too would like to hear from you.

I'm totally confused as to why you keep saying you didn't understand the audition process, and that the information isn't available on the NYMT website.

Here is a screeshot I took literally a minute ago. Its is quite clear that if you are invited to a second stage casting workshop that you will be CONSIDERED for a New Musical workshop. It doesnt say that those at second stage audition are guaranteed a company place.

The social media rumour mill did go in to overdrive somewhat this year about if you were at second stage you were definitely cast in a production. FWIW I personally think calling the second round auditions "casting" workshops isn't helpful and also using the word "workshop" in the context of both audition and project can cause some misunderstanding.

If I ruled the world... or at least had input on the NYMT audition process I would define things with the following terms

Stage 1 Audition (Workshop format)
Stage 2 Recall Audition (Workshop format)

Skills Course (Open Ability)
Skills Course (Invite Only)

New Musical Development Project
Production

I would also encourage you to consider that no-one at any point has said your GD isn't talented. To be called back means this has been recognised, but there are many many talented kids in the process and there can only be one selected to play Winnie Foster (for example).

Many many factors are taken in to consideration, when casting (not just NYMT but any professional role) things like age, is it a GCSE year or A level year for the young person , is the actor a believable fit for a family, how is their dance ability, do they also play a musical instrument, do they have a specialist skill (for example skateboarding which may be relevant when casting something like Flip), do they fit in easily to a team of new people, are they likely to be homesick and experience stress/anxiety, I'm not aiming any of these directly at your DC, just generally sharing some other things that may be considered that often have nothing to do with their MT skills (and some of which are completely outside the YP's control to do anything about)

Look at it this way... there are hundreds of premier league footballers. Not every team wins the title every year. It doesn't detract from the footballers talent in any way and it doesn't mean the game was rigged. Its just we can't all win all the time.

Get me making a sports anaology.

I'm all for discussing towels now, but just want to quickly through in, if NYMT have said they auditioned close to 1100, then that's what they auditioned- they've no reason to lie and you can't assume all venues had the same numbers. My DD auditioned in Newcastle and there were 15 max there in total!

Anyhoos... towels... and snacks! My daughter gets hangry! What would folks recommend for a week?

My DD is going NYT for the first time this year as well. Can I dm you to get some advice/insight please? I have literally NO idea what to expect.

Eek, everybody calm down! It's all got out of hand.

@Mariaamariaa I honestly don't doubt your GD's talent. That's the truth. NYMT saw it too because they recalled her. Unfortunately, the competition is such that phenomenally talented young people don't get cast every year. Even kids who have been West End Matildas. Please don't take it to heart, or think that a no thanks on this occasion is a slight to your GD or designed to undermine her confidence. Kids (particularly the performing kind) are a pretty resilient bunch and they usually bounce back pretty quickly. They need to learn this skill because it's part of the job. Possibly your GD has been pretty successful thus far because she's good and this has been a blow, but I bet she'll impress you by putting this in perspective pretty quickly. I hope she enjoyed her audition and recall. The information about the possible outcomes of recall should have been available in the email about the casting weekend, and would have been repeated verbally at the start of the recall session I expect. Possibly you weren't party to the email and/or your GD didn't fully grasp what was being said.
I do take your point that it's a lot of travel and expense to attend a recall with no guarantee of being cast in a show. I'm not sure what the solution to that would be, other than to recall only the numbers needed, which would mean far fewer chances all round, or to rotate the venue annually so it's not always in London and the expense is shared. As someone else has said, kids and parents travel hundreds of miles to attend several rounds of auditions for pro shows to end up with nothing at the end. I do hope you and your GD had a fun trip to London at least.
12+ is a difficult age for performing kids because they stop being cute and the opportunities tend to dry up a bit. Organisations like NYMT and BYMT plug that gap beautifully by providing opportunities for talented preteens and teens, but sadly there just aren't enough places for everyone. BYMT don't do recalls so you could try them next year and your DD will at least get a yes, a waitlist place or a no without needing to travel.
I apologise for my part in the spat earlier. I felt your criticism of NYMT was ill-informed and unfair, but having stepped away I understand you are an understandably proud hurting Grandma who feels bad for her GD. I hope she's OK and I wish you and her all the best.

Second year for us (gratefully!) DD is 13 and needs snacks and stuff but the food was so good last year she came home with most of it! They’re also allowed to the shops etc so it’s a nice break to buy some snacks too so I def won’t be sending her with loads like last year! For show week get the credit card ready the Deliveroo bills are ouch!!! 😆 but I was reassured that she was eating so all good!

My kids is in NYT, if I can help shout (when PMs are turned back on it might help!). He did both auditions online. That year it was about a 1/10 chance.

Not going to tag anyone in particular… but just to say that I was initially a bit concerned when I heard how many had been recalled that they had lowered their standards a bit this year in order to offer lots of recalls and therefore skills courses. My DD works very hard and I’m not saying she’s not talented… but it’s not like she’s been the lead for 7 years in a hotel chain…
But anyway, as per my DD that is categorically not the case - everyone who was there was incredible and they probably could have cast all the shows 2 or 3 times over. She said that everybody in the room at both recalls she went to was phenomenally talented.
I think we all get very emotional when it comes to our DCs and GCs, I definitely have that instinct to try and protect and shield my DC from any disappointment. But it’s actually very healthy for them to live through disappointments and learn to deal with it and bounce back, as we all know life is full of ups and downs and many things we can’t control!