Youth Music Theatre UK

    No, you don't have to prepare anything. If you have done auditions before, please note that this year we are changing the format slightly. The audition is a 3 hour group workshop where you’ll be led by a professional director, a musical director and a choreographer.

Your audition is a half-day group workshop led by professional theatre practitioners. They will be looking to gauge how well you dance, sing, act and work as a team. When you arrive you will meet the team, and they will talk you through what to expect.

After a vocal warmup, you will learn and perform a short song as a group that you will then sing for your solo audition. You don't need to be able to read music and all of the lyrics are provided, so nothing will get in the way of you showing us your best!

You will be given tips and advice by the Musical Director and the Director will also help you with acting choices in your song. You will take away valuable experience about how to prepare songs for future auditions all whilst having fun singing in a group!

You will also take part in a group dance and have the chance to show the team some improvised movement.

      You are auditioning to join the BYMT Company and take part in BYMT's 2020 Summer Season of New Music Theatre. These are two/three-week residential courses where you'll work with a professional artistic team to create a brand new piece of music theatre that will be performed in a professional theatre at the end of the project.

      Unlike most other Youth Theatres, BYMT is unique in creating ONLY brand new shows. Be part of something incredible and star in one of eight new shows taking place across the UK.

      We are looking for ANYONE aged 11-21 who loves theatre! We are looking for people with guts, determination, integrity, ambition, energy, authenticity, generosity and a willingness to give it everything! You don't need to have any prior experience whatsoever; we are looking for potential! The detailed casting information for each of our productions will be uploaded on Current Shows page.

Yes you can audition for BYMT as long as you turn 11 by the start of the summer.

      Selection is not based on where you live, so you could be put onto a project anywhere in the UK - Plymouth, Aberdeen, Belfast, London! BYMT projects are residential courses - so you'll be staying in university/boarding school-style accommodation away from your family. This gives you the unique opportunity to meet like-minded people, develop your skills and build confidence all whilst eating, sleeping and breathing theatre!

      When you arrive, a BYMT team member will be there to register you (and help you get rid of any nerves!). Parents/carers are not allowed in the audition room but are welcome to wait outside the audition area. There will always be a member of staff around before, during and after the audition to answer any questions you may have. We're also on the lookout for any parents/carers interested in volunteering to help with registrations - email hannahkipling@bymt.org

      You will need to wear loose comfortable clothing (NOT JEANS), trainers or jazz shoes and bring a bottle of water. You will also need to fill in our Audition Registration Form and bring it with you with two colour headshots attached. The Audition Registration Form can also be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

      What happens after the audition? Everyone will be given a mark for acting, singing and dancing based on the practitioners notes, which are made during your audition. After your audition the creative team meet for a casting session to match the most suitable performers to the skills required for a range of different shows. Their feedback will then go back to the BYMT office team who will prepare offer packs and letters to go out to everyone by the end of March 2020. Please bear with us during this time and we will be in touch as soon as we can.

      You may be successful and receive an offer to join the BYMT Company or you may not make it onto a show this time. Please don't be disheartened if you don't receive an offer, there are plenty of other opportunities to get involved with BYMT, especially through BYMT's Summer Skills Courses! We also aim to provide specific feedback and advice from your audition so you know where you can improve - this is available throughout April - May 2020.

      There is a non-refundable booking fee of £45 for BYMT Performer Auditions. Paying for auditions is standard industry practice and as an not-for-profit educational charity, the money that YMT receives covers the cost of staffing and venue hire. Unlike many auditions for Performing Arts colleges, which can be £50.00 for a 10-minute audition, BYMT's Auditions are three hours long giving all auditionees the chance to really show their talent!

      Discounts are also available for Group bookings - please get in touch with the office or details about these. This year, due to charitable funding, BYMT is able to offer the special audition rate of £15 to those in receipt of free school meals/pupil premium. This offer can be claimed by using promotion code FSM20 when booking online or booking over the phone 020 8563 7725, the participant will need to bring proof of their receipt of free school meals/pupil premium to their audition. Find an audition venue and book here.

      If successful, there is a course fee. BYMT is a not-for-profit educational charity and so our primary source of income comes from course fees. The course fee varies depending on the length of the course and whether you're a performer or a musician. For 2019 our courses for performers started at £1,550 go up to £1,990 and our courses for musicians start at £500 go up to £750.

      This may sound expensive but it covers all-inclusive accommodation for the whole duration, tuition from leading industry professionals, 24-hour full pastoral care, theatre hire, sets, props, costumes, sound design and technical staff (and your fee doesn't cover all of it - the actual cost is way over £3,000). We never insist that the course fee is paid in one lump sum, instead we create a flexible payment plan. Furthermore, we run a comprehensive bursary scheme if required and we're always happy to offer help on ways to raise money.

If you have any questions about BYMT Auditions, please contact the BYMT team by email: mail@bymt.org or call: 020 8563 7725

Lots of luck at your audition from all the team at BYMT!