In February the National Youth Theatre is coming to Edinburgh to hold auditions for those who want to join.
If you have acting aspirations then you might know that Helen Mirren and Daniel Craig are both alumni of NYT, so you would be in good company.
Last year four young aspiring actors joined the company following an arduous selection process from an initial list of 4,380 applicants.
Daisy Lewis, star of ITV’s Downton Abbey, has paid tribute to NYT for supporting her in her early career development: “We create Olympic storytellers in this country and the National Youth Theatre is Team GB. It was where I grew up, where I learned how to be an actor, but more importantly how to be a member of a diverse society where I was judged solely on merit. I would not be who I am or have had the career I love without the NYT. Even if you don’t think you’re going to be an actor you should audition because it’s an amazing experience.”
After a successful audition at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh for NYT’s Intake Acting Course, applicants aged 14-17 will gain a space on NYT’s Junior Acting Course; successful applicants aged 18-25 will join NYT’s three week Senior Acting Course or a four week Epic Stages Course.
Intake courses take place in August. Acting Auditions consist of three hour group workshops and an individual performance of a prepared speech. Speeches should be from a published play, learned by heart.
The NYT membership that participants receive on completion will allow them the opportunity to showcase their acting abilities through the NYT’s productions, locally, nationally and internationally.
As part of membership participants can also be considered to be part of the NYT REP Training Company, a group of members who train with the NYT full time for a year, fully funded, as a free performance training initiative.
Audition dates are now on sale and can be purchased here, Masterclass course dates can be purchased here. Applicants need to apply by 6 February. Auditions cost £46 and the NYT operate a bursary fund for those suffering from financial hardship. This year they have given away a record £140,000 worth of bursaries.
More information on Backstage and Masterclass courses and how to join can be found on the National Youth Theatre’s website atwww.nyt.org.uk and you can follow the organisation on Twitter @NYTofGB
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
