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 🥳🥳🥳

Same here @Operasingerkath ! I used to get notifications whenever there was a news message, but for some reason that stopped and I only remembered to jump on this morning as we had fab nes yesterday that DD has been recalled for The Ragged Child and Just So. Such exciting news, travelodge booked and scanning theatre websites for a good show while we're down there!
Congrats to everyone on all the exciting recall news!

P.S. I'm blooming awful at typing on my phone. Please excuse all the typos 🙈😆

Each show will have recall sessions on each of the recall days, so they won't be able to make decisions until after the final day. It's usually fairly quick (a few days) after that, though, that the news comes. Each recall session will have about 15 to 20 people in it, but the DC should bear in mind there are multiple sessions for each show and they won't encounter everyone recalled, so ot's impossoble to predict the outcome. If they don't get cast in a show there is still a good chance of getting a musical worlshop.

Congratulations to your DD! I remember chatting to you last year - so glad your DD enjoyed it enough to want to audition again!

Thanks @Biscuitsneeded

Congratulations to those with recalls. Just a thought how quickly does the recall
material get sent out? In previous years my DC has been at the last audition date so it was sent out almost immediately. Do they all get sent out at the same time?

Usually everybody gets the recall info at the same time, more or less. Often it's the weekend before the first recall, and then those auditioning that final weekend get their results and any recall materials very quickly after that.

@seventwelve25 my ds recalled for the same two shows!! So exciting for them

New to NYMT & BYMT as my DD is 11. Glad I found this thread! My DD did the London BYMT audition on Saturday and the London NYMT audition on Sunday. We are keeping our expectations managed as it's her first attempt but she had such a lovely time and said how supportive all the other attendees were - such a great experience and will definitely do it again next year!

Glad to hear your DD enjoyed the auditions. I think it's great how supportive of each other the young people are. Fingers crossed for results!

Can anyone tell me a bit more about NYMT new musical. DD has just been offered a casting workshop for this.

Are new musical workshops similar to the skills workshops or is it a slightly better offer than the skills workshops? and is it just an automatic progression from being offered skills workshop 1st year of auditions followed by new musical workshop second time auditioning.

Would be very grateful for any extra info on the new musicals. Thanks

It's not an automatic progression, no. It means your DD scored well in the audition - well enough to be recalled to be considered for a new musical workshop. The new musical workshops are different from the skills workshops in that they develop a new piece of writing with the writers present - and a director, choreographer, MD etc. They may be cast in a specific role, or work as a part of an ensemble, but taking part means they get to shape the development of a potential new show, just as professional actors 'workshop' new show before they get produced. At the end of the residential week they usually perform a few scenes and numbers to parents. It's not fully produced with sets and costumes, but the young people usually really enjoy having input into what could be a new show, working with the writers, and feeling part of a company. Another bonus is that sometimes the new musical workshops go on to become a full production the following year, and sometimes the original participants get cast again (and sometimes they don't, of course!). This year's show Every Day was a workshop last year, for example.
Maybe somebody whose DC has done a workshop recently can give a bit more detail. Well done to your DD!

@Biscuitsneeded thanks for very useful info.

@madlybusymumoffour - DD did a residential skills course last year at Easter and then got asked to do a (non-residential) new musical workshop (called Windsong) in the summer. I can only assume they had someone drop out of Windsong and thought she was either a near miss at the original audition or impressed on the skills course, as she didn't get invited to a casting workshop, which is the usual way they are cast in a NMW or show.

Going on her experience (which so far has only been those two things), the skills course and the NMW were totally different. The skills course was more like being taught in acting, singing and dancing - it was what I imagine being like performing arts school might be like (although she's at a regular school so I don't really know!).

The NMW was about testing out a specific new musical, and the one she did was heavily about dance and movement, so there was a strong focus on choreography. There was the author /composer of the musical there, two choreographers and I think maybe a musical director as there was a bit of singing involved too. The sessions were about trying out different scenes from the musical to see how they could work, partly for the benefit of the author /composer. So it was really different to the skills course.

From this and previous similar threads I don't think it's the case that DC tend to go in a progression from skills course to NMW to full show - eg there seem to be DC on here who audition for the first time ever and get a show, then don't get a show the next year. Plus all kinds of other combinations.

I think getting a NMW or a show demonstrates that your DC did impress at audition because after the initial audition you (usually) get a call back to a casting workshop either for one (or several) of the shows OR for a NMW. Everyone else gets offered a skills workshop.

So exciting! Is your ds there on 21st? Dd keeps asking if I've received the material yet and trying to secondnguess which Just So songs will be on the list! It's going to be a long 2 and half weeks! 😂

Delighted to report back that NYMT were.happy to change the date for my DD’s casting workshop and said it was no problem to so very relieved!

I say this every year - they are really nice people! I guess creatives who choose to work with young people are bound to be approachable, but I also think they actively aim to embody the values they want the participants to display. I don't think it's a coincidence that NYMT auditionees always support each other, that there is so rarely any diva behaviour and that participants often feel such a strong sense of belonging or having found their tribe. They learn that respect and mutual appreciation from the adults. I guess I'm feeling sentimental now, as my DS is moving on, but I will always tell anyone who will listen that NYMT has been the making of him.

Surely material for the 15-2 will be emailed soon. Does anyone know why workshops are 2 hours not 3 hours like last year?

I said the same about it being 2 hours- says group movement and acting and singing. I’m surprised no dance especially with a show like west side story .

Last year they were 3 hours. We shall see I guess!

Material for the 15/2 arrived today. Sounds like there will be dance workshops - not clear why only 2 hours. Obviously to my eyes it all looks completely impossible but I am sure all our DC will take it in their stride.
I guess they send material for each call back about 10 days in advance of each workshop so everyone is equal. They are still doing preliminary auditions this weekend, so will probably send material for 21st/22nd recalls soon after that.
Exciting!

I think it’s all come to anyone recalled as my child has it for 21st.

Ok! great. Good luck everyone. 🤗

Results out from this weekend: Recall for The Ragged Child for my DC x

Congratulations 😊. Out of interest what age range are they looking at for ragged child?