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 🥳🥳🥳

It was just so. They were an older one and with no one they have met from other shows before. She felt it worked better having 3 hours. I think it’s hearing from a friend who was redirected she feels a bit lost that the director hadn’t got that far as they were the first session. She is a fan all rounder but yes overthinking why not seen for two projects.

My DD sounds exactly the same as yours - only recalled for one (Just So) I am putting it down to the fact she isn't easily cast as either a kid or an older teen. She is short (5 foot and an excuse) but has a alto/mezzo voice. She's too old sounding for a Ragged Child but too young looking for a High School Senior in Every Day and almost certainly too short for ensemble in WSS. Does any of this sound like your DD?

In previous years this inbetween group would have been picked up by Crescendo, but with no project of that nature this year the younger teens are going to find it harder IMO (unless they very obviously still read as a child)

Im very interested to know what the age group for Just So was if you consider your DD to be one of the oldest?

My DD is 5,5 and 18. So definitely adult looking.

Its so hard to know - but to make it back to casting for one show means its not a decision based on ability. I know you already know that but sometimes it helps to hear someone else say it!

In regads to number of recalls - we had a recall for 1 show last year and ended up with an offer for a different project. I know people who had recalls for 2 shows and didn't get anything.

Im trying to frame the one show call back as a positive that they have a really clear vision of where she fits in a production and now all she has to do is deliver in line with that vision.... Keeping everything crossed for you.

We only have the one recall this year too - everybody DC knows has two. Who knows... (Yes I have overthought it plenty, don't worry, not letting the side down - but ultimately we will never know the reasons!).

When it comes to the casting workshops I can only say - trust them. They will not be intentionally disadvantaging anyone, and they will be looking at everyone. Redirecting someone could mean he didn't like what they were doing, where as yours got it spot on first time! You just don't know - but they build this huge jigsaw every year, time after time, without fail. And I truly don't think they get it wrong... even if it isn't always the result we want.

Remember the recalls are free. They COST them money to run. They didn't invite your kids to not look at them or give them a fair chance - they could choose to recall less and it cost less money or time. They want to see them do well.

I know my kid has a slim chance of getting in to their one recalled show - but hey, let's just give it everything you've got kid, and we'll see what happens this time...

Trying not to overthink as it’s passed and she gave her all and she has moved on 😂. Now the wait of another week or so. Feels a long time this year. I hope the recalls next weekend all go well and the DC are excited. We saw prima facie a couple of nights ago. Jodie comer is amazing! Pretty hard content to be pushing out daily! Keeping busy with taking my youngest taking her to see Annie later and hoping I never have to watch it again. I think I have seen this show too many times now. How is everyone’s half term going?

Only one recall here too. I agree that it’s easy to overthink the reasons behind a casting recall. I don’t know for sure but I believe that the recall decisions are made by the creatives in the room during the first round audition workshop. Therefore the outcomes are going to vary. One creative may have different opinions/ be looking for something different to another creative. I also think the song you pick has an influence. My DC had to pick off the list this year and they went for a more legit song. Subsequently they have been recalled for the show that that song is suitable for and not the pop show…..
There is the possibility that if your child has already been in a production that the creatives already know their abilities and therefore they end up being cast in another production than the one they have been recalled for anyway…. My DC knows of someone this happened to last year…..!
And as an aside at my DC’s recall on Sunday they were told that they had recalled 200 young people in total. Now. I have no idea whether that’s just for that one production or across the board……🤷🏻‍♀️
Good luck to everyone this weekend! All the DC are amazing. I don’t know how they do it x

Do you think might have been 200 per day? I feel 200 per show is a few too many, but altogether not enough!
The nerves have kicked in here for Saturday...and dd has woken up with a sore throat 🙈 rushing to the shops to buy some honey and lemon now!!

Excited and nervous to be heading over tomorrow and that’s just me 🤣 DD and DS looking forward to it though ❤️

Oh the overthinking! It’s impossible to avoid. I’m one step away from being banned from being able to mention anything associated with NYMT…it’s possibly 150 per show if there are 9 workshops with 15-20 in each. There must have been lots of first rounders this year. Lots of luck to all who audition this weekend!

Reading all your posts about recalls, I am both jealous and also relieved - we didn't get a recall (first timers,, not worried);
but there is something lovely knowing we have booked our skills workshop and have planned theatre trips either side (well ... if it's going to be in Canterbury, and we are travelling down from Yorkshire, it would be oh so remiss of us NOT to call into the West End 😉😆).

Wishing everyone all the best for their DC - I'm the one sat over in the corner observing that isn't (for once) overthinking; and not feeling smug at having our summer sorted, because I know I'll be an overthinking mess of a person should mine ever get a recall. 😫

I think your DC will have a lovely time in Canterbury, which is a great place to do a course, and no doubt they will enjoy London and the West End en route too! You can read all about recalls this year on here and enjoy not having that stress, and fingers crossed your DC will be back next year and you too might be in a position to overthink!! As the parent of someone who has kind of aged out of NYMT (not officially but graduating drama school this year so really needs to find some work) I am enjoying not having the late February nerves!

That’s a lovely post @redgee ! I’m sure your DC will have a fab time on the skills course. Canterbury is a gorgeous place and as a fellow northerner, I’m all for visiting the west end whenever it’s possible! My DS is now at stage school and based just outside London and we make it a mission to see a show every time we go to see him. You enjoy that unique position of being in NYMT without the overthinking while you can 😂

I tried to stay away but they pulled me back in!

Ugh wanted to take a break for a few days before DD's recall on Saturday but I keep getting called back!

Wanted to quickly say - I am also firmly of the opinion that the song you chose would affect the show you were streamed in to. I would even go so far as to say that in the case of the Under 18's list there may have even been a few songs that were deliberately put in there with certain characters/roles in mind (checking range and vocal quality) Thats not to say you have to pick that song to be considered for a particular character more if you did pick a song that demonstrated an near idential vocal range and style to this years show songs its only gonna go in your favour right?

@HanD31 so very jelly you got Prima Facie tickets. I sat in the automated queue for hours on the day they were released but no luck! I have seen it when it was on NT at home but to see it live would be something else!

Good luck for Saturday/Sunday all of those recalling. Grateful of course to be in the room but also very firmly managing expectations this year as our casting options are narrow!

You never know! I think Just So could be cast in lots of different ways. Good luck. 🍀

@MxPicklesof course you are right. I feel for any audition, peolle perhaps should have a character/ show in mind and demonstrate they can perform that role in their choice of song/ monologue.

However, from my personal experience, every young person cast in a show are talented and can play any role. It is likely their look/ personality or something else that gets them particular roles. Not necessarily ability. That’s the world of performing arts

My DD age 17 height 5 foot 9 didnt get a recall. She looks quite old. She's strong so her teacher said she probably didnt fit the look they were after. I was very surprised as the people she auditioned with were a very equal level to her and they all got one or two recalls. Can anyone make sense of this? Do you think she was too tall or too old looking for this year's shows or was it just a case of not enough roles and too many people fitting the puzzle already? I find it hard to believe she didnt fit any workshop either. Reading all your messages, I am wondering all the more....

Sorry to hear your DD was disappointed. To progress to recall stage, the DC need to score highly across all 3 skills (although I suspect they make some exceptions for phenomenal singing/acting talents with no dance experience, for example, and just recall them for less dance-heavy projects). So it's entirely possibly your DD was in a room with others and was able to feel confident her skills at least matched theirs, but in another session that may not have come across as the case. The acting recall can be deceptive because they want to see creativity and teamwork as well as how you read the sides - and sometimes the DC just can't find a way to demonstrate that.
Once they have the scores, they look at who might suit being recalled for which project. So I think it's very unlikely they would dismiss anyone for looking too old or too tall if they had the necessary scores. Once they start considering roles, of course physical appearance has a part to play (eg the teachers in Fame last year by and large needed to look a bit older than the students!) but I don't think height or perceived age would prevent a recall.
Ultimately, an audition is just a snapshot. It's not the summation of a DC's talent. Sometimes talented DC get overlooked (in any audition setting, not just NYMT), and sometimes they don't give as good an account of themselves as they can. It's a tough old industry, and disappointment will be part of it for any performer. I hope your DD wasn't too disappointed, and if they have not spotted her potential this time, do encourage her to come back next year and show them what she can do!

Casting is so often whether someone will fit in the vision being created. I think they look how they gel in the groups working creatively and how they use their imagination with the acting tasks. It’s hard but if her teacher says she is strong, it will be where she fits into these projects. My DD said she thought lots of younger ones this year. So last year she may have fit in an adult role in a show but maybe less of those roles this year. It’s all a puzzle and we are all guilty of thinking too much. My DD’s friend from college did the skills workshop last year and loved it. And recalled for different projects this year.

@Biscuitsneeded2 of the teachers in fame last year were only 17 and did not look older than the rest. I think once you get to that age you can play adult or teenage roles .

@Bubjyou can speculate but sadly won’t know why your DD didn’t get a recall. However it’s best to grow a thick skin in this industry

"However it’s best to grow a thick skin in this industry". Absolutely!

Wise words and for the most part I agree, but I do think height, age and vocal type cab be used to filter people with otherwise strong scores in the early stages. Its the only way to account for why some people are offered two shows and some only one. The performers skills remain the same so the only difference has to be casting type and/or vocal quality.

My DD's strongest skill is dance (she is on an MDS and is in full time vocational dance training) but I knew there WSS was never going to be on the cards for her because of her playing age and height. Im not being salty - just pragmatic :) For the same reason I am not really expecting a show this year as I cant obviously see a place where she will fit,

That said if the point you are making is that if your scores are strong enough then height/age etc won't prevent you from finding a recall in one of the many projects (including NMW) then yes I do tend to fall down on the side of completely agreeing with you.

Yes, your last para is the point I am making. If the scores are strong enough, they will recall you somehow. As for who gets one and who gets two recalls, who knows? My DS was always just glad to have a recall of any kind. My mantra was always 'trust the process', and that hasn't changed over the years even though many other aspects of NYMT have undergone significant change. I have seen many very talented young people not get cast, but then when they tried again the next year they were right for a show.
WSS might well be only for over 16s. They have done that before (Spring Awakening, Hunchback etc) and it wouldn't surprise me.

WSS is over 16 only. DS is applying for the production pathway and the summary document they were sent said that the cast for that show would be 16 and over due to the content/themes of the show

I personally know of two Y10 (so 14/15) recalled for WSS and have heard on the grapevine of others.

Can I just take a minute to say again - absolutely NOT being salty here and definitely not having a " Why can't my 14 year old caucasian daughter play Maria" moment.

I think the point I am trying to make is I enter in to the audition process knowing that certain projects and roles are a non starter and that is absolutely fine. We saw Just So as DD's best shot this year and picked our songs and sides from the list with this show in mind.

We couldn't be more grateful to still be in consideration, but again I am tempering that with a huge dollop of the odds perhaps being a bit slimmer for 14 year olds this year because ...no crescenco. With less roles for this age group its a bit like the search for Winnie Foster last year - there was only ever going to be one from literally hundreds of amazingly talented kids.

But what I have learned from years of different auditions is what doesn't make you right for something one year is usually the exact same thing that makes you perfect for something the next. Thats the way it goes!