NYMT/BYMT 2026

[doesanybodyhaveamap]

So with the big reveal of the 50th anniversary programme it feels like a good time to start the 2026 chat!

Here we go again 🥳🥳🥳

Intro from me- DC 18 hopefully going into year 7(!) in the NYMT fam. Over those 7 years they’ve predominantly been in the band, but have also had the chance to be onstage as a performer too.

Announcement tonight has thrown us a bit, as there were some consistent theories among the kids which haven’t played out… DC was really REALLY hoping for Sweeney! Sure it’s all going to be amazing though. Wondering what ‘and more to be announced’ means…

Anyone know if ‘Just So’ is going to be an actor muso show?? Would be very exciting if that’s the case!!

Congrats again to #TeamPlatform on taking us from 2025 into 2026 with such a fabulous show.

Looking forward to sharing the biscuits with you again this year 🥰

Aahh…! Some eagle eyed company members have noted that the show rights holders websites are showing upcoming productions of Les Mis and Sweeney by NYMT in August 2026. Seems there may be more to come…

Oooooohhhh 🤞🏻🤞🏻

They were all soooo convinced!

i love their dedication to find out. If musical theatre doesn’t work maybe a role as a secret agent might be their calling!!

🤣🤣🤣

Yes, this has been mentioned in our house tonight too! Looking forward to seeing what comes next. Very exciting! Thanks for the new thread @doesanybodyhaveamap ♥️

Here we go again indeed! It all sounds very exciting, whatever the reality of licensing notices etc. West Side Story is an absolute cracker for the dancers and musicians.

Something to get us through the next few months and dark winter nights. DS will be going in for another go having loved his first show with NYMT. Here's hoping!😊

Hi gang ! Pickles reporting for NYMT/BYMT duty

So, we have had some discussion on the Birmingham Hippodrome shows but there are a few surprises in the workshops too! Letty Pegg is back making me wonder if a possible main show for 27?

Just So is a really interesting choice as the casting is so wide open (good news for the U16's) .

DD was invited to do the Every Day workshop this October but we couldn't make it because of prior commitements. Shame cause it also looks like it is going to be a cracker!

Tend to agree with the super sleuths above - this is the 50th NYMT year so there is almost certainly something bigger to come. I was of the understanding that in place of a Christmas concert there would be a 50th Anniversary Gala Concert? Wonder if that is why no announcment of Crescenco/Platform because they are being wrapped up in to a 50th Gala event for this year. It could also be that crescendo/platform are now a standard part of the season so no need to be "announced" - so many questions!

I'm waffling! So much to take in Very exciting . That said this year my DD focus in on 6th form auditions so this may be the year N/BYMT take a bit of a back seat but for now we are planning on auditioning :)

hi! Am totally new to NYMT/ BYMT audition season.

Super grateful in advance for everyone's input and sharing your experiences and knowledge!

DS (age 14) did a week Skills course with NYMT in London last summer (he loved everything about it!), and is auditioning for the first time in Feb.

Can anyone share how it all works, logistically?

Here's my understanding of the process so far:

• After the audition, they might be asked back for a recall day (one of the weekends in Feb half-term)
• After the recall day, they find out if they have a place by end Feb

But mostly I just have questions...

• Are they then required for any rehearsals in Easter holidays?
• For the summer residentials, if the performance is in Birmingham, are they in Birmingham for two weeks? Or are rehearsals elsewhere?
• Do they do two weeks of rehearsals and then performance dates the following week? Do they come home for all the weekends?
• Or one week rehearsals and then performances the following week?
• Do we need to accompany them on all the performance dates (eg. booking a hotel/ bnb etc)?

Ditto for BYMT (audition not booked yet, only found out about them today!)

• Where are the residentials held, are they on a similiar timescale, do they also involve Easter timings?

Obviously all academic unless he gets a part, and I know it's hard to get in, so I'm not assuming anything.

However, I don't want him to get all excited about auditioning, to then find out he's required in the Easter holidays but we've booked a trip and now he can't do it!

Huge thanks in advance!

Hi folks, ex musician parent here!

NYMT was lifechanging for my son. Both the experience itself and the connections he made. He is in his final year at conservatoire now and has just been asked to play for a national tour so on the brink of his career starting.

However (I repeat this every year for newbies). The first year he auditioned it was a no. He was disappointed but moved on and decided that maybe it wasn't for him. But he was remembered and the following year ended up doing two shows, one as Asst MD and the other as Keys player, wiht another two shows the year after too. *Two shows is only usually appliable for musicians, not stage performers).

The 2026 season looks exciting.

• Are they then required for any rehearsals in Easter holidays?

yes if a stage performer, no if a musician. There is usually one week of rehearsals at Easter. If they are offered a new musical workshop then they are not usually needed at Easter

• For the summer residentials, if the performance is in Birmingham, are they in Birmingham for two weeks? Or are rehearsals elsewhere?

I'm not sure what happened last year but both times my son has performed the 1st week of rehearsals was in a boarding school not close to the performance venue, the 2nd week was at a premier Inn near to the theatre

• Do they do two weeks of rehearsals and then performance dates the following week? Do they come home for all the weekends?

One week of rehearsals at Easter, one week in summer, then one week of tech/dress at the theatre. They come home for the weekend in between

• Or one week rehearsals and then performances the following week?

see above, 2nd week is usually tech/dress followed by 3/4 days of performances

• Do we need to accompany them on all the performance dates (eg. booking a hotel/ bnb etc)?

No, you drop them off on the first day and they are accommodated/chaperoned and you collect them after the final show

Welcome @morecoffeepleeeease! you’re in totally the right place.

Your first 2 points about timings are entirely correct.

After recalls, you will receive one of several outcomes:

1. cast in a full production
2. cast in a new musical workshop
3. offered a skills course - their are a range of these based on the stage your DC is at and they try to place people on a course to suit their skills.

If no recall, you will also be offered a skills course but likely to be one of the less advanced ones.

if you are cast in a full production, there will be a week of rehearsals at Easter, then another week in summer immediately prior to production week.

Rehearsal weeks happen in boarding schools in Kent. After the summer rehearsal the kids go home for the weekend before heading to Birmingham for production week.

All accommodation is provided. Meals are provided for rehearsal weeks but production week is BnB only and they need money to purchase lunch and dinner. Pastoral look after the younger ones and make sure they eat! Older ones tend to go out in groups or order takeout.

Depending where you live, that middle weekend in the summer can be a pain! Lots of people pick up from Canterbury and either spend the weekend there or head to b’ham and spend the weekend there before dropping off on Monday (usually around lunch time).

Best of luck to your son!

@doesanybodyhaveamap thank you so much!

Super helpful to understand the Easter week. They haven't published any dates so I assume you wouldn't get the date until they offered the place and need to keep all Easter hols free for now?

So I need to hold off on other family plans (not my strong point) without letting onto the kids that this is why, in case he doesn't get in and then feels like we've missed out on a holiday or had to do something different as a result... Or so siblings don't feel that his schedule is driving all our plans!

Has anyone here done BYMT, and does that work in a similiar way?

Huge thanks again!

@morecoffeepleeeeasewe never make any family plans until end of Feb 😂

BYMT seem to have a scheme of reserve lists and rolling acceptances so often you don't know dates until very late I'm afraid.

Thanks @Comefromaway

Have you done BYMT before?

It looks like they do summer and Easter productions...?

Where are they based? Do they also several weeks of residential? It says 15 nights on their website - does that mean it's 15 consecutive nights and does that include the production?

Any insight into how it actually works greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

No, ds hasn't as such (although last year he worked for them on their creative team) but this is what auditionees have reported on here over the years (I first came on the thread in 2021)

They are based in Leeds. Last year they used a boarding school just outside Leeds for the production ds worked on.

The dates for the NYMT shows which have been announced are all on the NYMT website now.

For BYMT it is more variable. After the auditions you may be allocated a show or put on a waiting list to be allocated a show at a later date. I’m not sure the route if unsuccessful. Those on the waiting list can have a bit of a delay to find out which can make summer plans tricky.

With NYMT when you find out you’ve been successful you are told the role you’ve been cast in. With BYMT you are placed in a show then casting is part of the rehearsal process. The length of rehearsal will depend on the show. My ds did one which was away for 3 weeks with rehearsals straight into show however this was post Covid so they were pretty much in a bubble till after the final show. The next year he did about 4 days in May half term then 2 weeks in the summer. For other shows there have been no May rehearsals and just a couple of weeks in the summer. I’ve not looked on the website recently but there may be more details or parents with more recent experience could help better. With BYMT all accommodation and food is included and no weekend home in between.

Both are great experiences and my ds loved every show he took part in.

Congratulations to @Comefromaway son on the upcoming tour!

Thank you. He is depping so far he has one confirmed venue. There was potentially another but he is not now needed for that one. But they have him on standby.

My DD (14) has done both BYMT and NYMT. I think most people have covered the NYMT answers so I will try and answer for BYMT.

BYMT have one Easter Production and the rest of their productions take place through the summer holidays At audition you can opt out of consideration for a place in the he Easter Production if the dates don't work for you.

You only have one Audition workshop with BYMT - there is no recall stage.

BYMT operates a reserve list system for production offers. After all auditions at all locations have taken place first stage offers will be made. These all go out on the same day and if successful you will be offered a place in a production not a specific role. Casting will take place as part of the rehearsal process.

If you don't get offered a production in the first round of offers you will be placed on a reserve list. The date offers are made varies year by year but as a rough guide expect first stage offers late February and for the reserve list to remain open until late April.

All BYMT courses are residential. They stage productions in various UK regional theatres which will be announced at the same time as the 2026 season. As an indication The Lowry Manchester, Exeter Northcott and Southwark Playhouse were all used in '24 and '25. Accommodation is typically in a boarding school commutable from the Theatre.

You do not need to audition to take part in a BYMT musical workshop or skills course - usually referred to as "camps" in BYMT speak. Again camps are always residential and are held at various locations across the UK.

Camps are typically1 week long and Productions take place over 2 consecutive weeks

Hope this answers most BYMT audition questions but if I've missed anything let me know :)

So great to see all these posts already on this thread! Loads of luck to all the young people auditioning. No idea what will happen with my own young adult but I shall be watching the shows regardless!

So great to see all these posts already on this thread! Loads of luck to all the young people auditioning. No idea what will happen with my own young adult but I shall be watching the shows regardless!

So great to see all these posts already on this thread! Loads of luck to all the young people auditioning. No idea what will happen with my own young adult but I shall be watching the NYMT shows regardless!

Thank you all for sharing the insights!

If a child auditions both as stage performer and musician, does it have to be the same audition city? Do you think there is a chance for a classical ballet dancer or is it just for commercial/street/hip hop? DD is doing contemporary but not very advanced (she's 11), ballet is roughly Intermediate.