British Youth Music Theatre, the UK’s leading music theatre company for young people, is searching for the next generation of musical theatre talent to take to the stage in their 2022 season, and they will ensure the auditions scheduled for early next year go ahead via whichever method is safest at the time.
Jon Bromwich says “BYMT have always put the well-being of young participants first, and to that end auditions will be going ahead in the new year, either online or in person, as the COVID and Omicron rules allow. Young people have been disproportionally effected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with home schooling, cancelled exams, freshers’ weeks scrapped and general reduced social contact during these formative years. BYMT saw a huge increase in applications last year as aspiring musical theatre performers jumped at the opportunity to get back into creative activities with other like-minded people. We see the importance opportunities such as these have on the mental health of our participants, and are dedicated to continuing to offer them in whatever form is necessary. We won’t let the young people of 2022 become the lost generation.”
From 29 January to 20 February 2022, BYMT have prepared for auditions in 15 cities across the UK and Ireland, looking for young actors and musicians. Every year BYMT seeks out talented young performers aged 11-21 of all backgrounds and experience levels to audition for an opportunity to be cast and experience musical theatre from the inside.
Online auditions in 2021 gave BYMT the chance to see auditionees who might previously have been unable to attend in person events for a range of reasons from financial to access needs, but the charity also acknowledge many young people prefer the opportunity to be seen in person. However they are seen, each auditionee will be carefully observed and graded on their acting, singing, dancing as well as their ability to work as part of a team by top industry professionals and around 300 young people will be invited into the BYMT Company 2022.
BYMT specialises in creating brand new music theatre, working across the UK and Ireland with leading industry professionals to offer unique opportunities and high-quality training to young singers, actors, dancers and musicians as well as emerging artists and stage technicians. Their prestigious alumni include the UK’s Official Number 1 Artist of the Decade Ed Sheeran, Oscar award-winner Sam Smith, TV stars Charlotte Ritchie, Jack Bence, Aretha Ayeh, Genesis Lynea, West End performers Laurence Samuels, Grace Mouat, Luke McCall, Bradley Jaden, Christopher Tendai amongst others.
Annie McGinn, 15, from Liverpool says “I would 100% recommend anyone to do a BYMT audition! In the audition you get a real insight of the family environment you will get at BYMT. All the people on the panel are rooting for you to become a part of one of their projects! My audition was online and even then I made friends who I still keep in touch with now. BYMT summer truly was the best summer ever and now only helped me grow as a person, but as a performer and if you’re looking to grow yourself as a performer, BYMT is the place to do it.”
British Youth Music Theatre is a national performing arts company (an Arts Council England NPO) that specialises in creating brand new music theatre with young people; our aim is to maintain the pipeline of talent for the industry and improve access for underrepresented groups. Since 2003 we have enhanced the lives of over 15,000 young people, developing singers, actors, dancers and musicians, as well as emerging artists and stage technicians. We operate nationally, recruiting talent from across the UK for our core programme: 10 original theatre productions + 8 residential skills courses (Summer Camps), taking place each summer, in various locations from Belfast to London to Plymouth.
