The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) is an arts organisation in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

providing pre-professional education and

musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...

stage experience for young people. Based in London, it is constituted as a

private limited company A private limited company is any type of business entity in "private" ownership used in many jurisdictions, in contrast to a publicly listed company, with some differences from country to country. Examples include the ''LLC'' in the United St ...

(originally named Children's Music Theatre Limited) and as a

registered charity A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a ch ...

. NYMT was founded in 1976 by director and playwright Jeremy James Taylor. Since its inception, it has produced over fifty productions at the

Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...

, premièred thirty new musical theatre works, toured several times outside the United Kingdom, and had runs in the West End and on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

. Amongst the many alumni of the National Youth Music Theatre who have gone on to careers in the performing arts are

Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He received a British Academy Film Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, two Tony Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. In 2007, he received an Honorary Cés ...

(one of its patrons),

Jonny Lee Miller Jonathan Lee Miller (born 15 November 1972) is a British film, television and theatre actor. He achieved early success for his portrayal of Simon "Sick Boy" Williamson in the dark comedy-drama film '' Trainspotting'' (1996) and as Dade Murphy i ...

Sheridan Smith Sheridan Caroline Sian Smith OBE (born 25 June 1981) is an English actress, singer and television personality. Smith came to prominence after playing a variety of characters on sitcoms such as ''The Royle Family'' (1999–2000), ''Two Pints of ...

Connie Fisher Connie Fisher (born 17 June 1983) is a British actress, singer and TV presenter, who won the BBC One talent contest, '' How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?'' On 15 November 2006, she opened to excellent reviews in the part of Maria von Trapp ...

Idris Elba Idrissa Akuna Elba (; born 6 September 1972) is an English actor.

and

Matt Lucas Matthew Richard Lucas (born 5 March 1974) is an English actor, comedian, writer, and television presenter. He is best known for his work with David Walliams on the BBC sketch comedy series ''Little Britain'' (2003–2006, 2020) and '' Come Fl ...

. Alumni have also included directors such as Jo Davies, and songwriters such as

Tara Mcdonald Tara Jane McDonald (born September 9, 1986) is an English singer-songwriter. She is signed to Play Two/Warner Records. McDonald achieved success working and co-writing with Armand van Helden and Axwell on the chart hits " My My My" and " Feel ...

Activities

The NYMT's primary activity is the education of young people in theatre production and performance. It produces and commissions

works in which young people between the ages of 11 and 23 perform as actors, musicians, and stage crew under the guidance of theatre professionals. The company tours both in the UK and abroad performing established musicals such as ''

Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the penny dreadful serial '' The String of Pearls'' (1846–47). The original tale became a feature of 19th-century melodrama and London legend. A barber from Fleet Stre ...

'' and ''

Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1906, it tell ...

'',Webb, Paul (23 April 2003)
"Dominic Tigue Chats About Role in London's Latest Oklahoma!"
''

Playbill ''Playbill'' is an American monthly magazine for theatergoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most copies of ''Playbill'' are printed for particular productions and distributed at the door as the show's p ...

''. Retrieved 16 July 2012. as well as new works specifically written to be performed by young people. Amongst the thirty new works which the NYMT has commissioned and/or performed for the first time are

Howard Goodall Howard Lindsay Goodall (; born 26 May 1958) is an English composer of musicals, choral music and music for television. He also presents music-based programmes for television and radio, for which he has won many awards. In May 2008, he was na ...

's ''The Dreaming'' and ''The Kissing Dance'', and

Alan Ayckbourn Sir Alan Ayckbourn (born 12 April 1939) is a prolific British playwright and director. He has written and produced as of 2021, more than eighty full-length plays in Scarborough and London and was, between 1972 and 2009, the artistic director o ...

's ''Orvin - Champion Of Champions''. The NYMT also runs residential and day workshops in various aspects of theatre production and performance. The company has no core funding and relies upon participants' fees, ticket sales, and fundraising. Christiansen, Rupert (3 August 2009)
"Bruno and the National Youth Music Theatre"
''

Daily Telegraph Daily or The Daily may refer to: Journalism * Daily newspaper, newspaper issued on five to seven day of most weeks * ''The Daily'' (podcast), a podcast by ''The New York Times'' * ''The Daily'' (News Corporation), a defunct US-based iPad new ...

''. Retrieved 16 July 2012. Young people who participate in the NYMT's productions and workshops do so as amateurs and meet their own expenses and fees, although the company provides bursaries in cases of need.

History

1976 to 2003

The NYMT had its beginnings in 1976, when its founder Jeremy James Taylor, produced ''The Ballad of Salomon Pavey'' in a tent on the lawn of Belmont School in

Mill Hill Mill Hill is a suburb in the London Borough of Barnet, England. It is situated around northwest of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until 1965, when it became part of Greater London. Its population counted 18,4 ...

, North London. The musical, performed by twenty boys at the school, was based on the life of the 17th century boy actor, Salomon Pavey, with a book by Taylor and David Drew-Smythe. Taylor then took the production to the

where it won a

Scotsman The Scots ( sco, Scots Fowk; gd, Albannaich) are an ethnic group and nation native to Scotland. Historically, they emerged in the early Middle Ages from an amalgamation of two Celtic-speaking peoples, the Picts and Gaels, who fou ...

Fringe First award. Appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe in other musicals performed entirely by school children followed in succeeding years with ''Helen Come Home, or Achilles the Heel'' (1978) and ''Tin Pan Ali, or The Sesame Street Racket'' (1979). The company became known as the Children's Musical Theatre and in 1980 was registered as a

and as a

charity Charity may refer to: Giving * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing * C ...

. In 1985 it changed its name to the National Youth Music Theatre and began holding residential workshops in addition to its summer productions. In 1986, ''The Ragged Child'' by David Nield, Frank Whately and Taylor, along with '' Let's Make an Opera'', was performed on the Edinburgh International Festival. ''The Ragged Child'' went on to Sadler's Wells in Spring 1987 and was filmed for BBC TV a year later. It became one of the company's flagship productions. With its 1998 production of ''The Ragged Child'', the NYMT also became the first touring company to perform at the new Glyndebourne opera house. ''October's Children'' by the same team of Nield, Whately and Taylor played on the International Festival in 1990 and in the following year at

Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue in Clerkenwell, London, England located on Rosebery Avenue next to New River Head. The present-day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500-seat ...

and the Swan Theatre, Stratford. ''Pendragon'' by Peter Allwood, Frank Whately, Joanna Horton and Jeremy James Taylor won a Scotsman Fringe First Award in 1994, followed by a tour to the Far East and then a week at the

New York City Center New York City Center (previously known as the Mecca Temple, City Center of Music and Drama,. The name "City Center for Music and Drama Inc." is the organizational parent of the New York City Ballet and, until 2011, the New York City Opera. and t ...

where it was given the accolade of ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' ''Critics' Choice''. By 2003, the company had presented 53 productions at the Edinburgh Fringe, premiered 29 new music theatre commissions, held eight foreign tours, and had runs in the West End and on

.Cox, Roger (18 April 2003)
"A little song and dance routine"
''

The Scotsman ''The Scotsman'' is a Scottish compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh. First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until August 2004. Its pare ...

''. Retrieved 16 July 2012 .

Financial crisis

Over the years, the NYMT's main funding had come from private sponsorship, initially from the

Nationwide Building Society Nationwide Building Society is a British mutual financial institution, the seventh largest cooperative financial institution and the largest building society in the world with over 16 million members. Its headquarters are in Swindon, Englan ...

and then from

Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948), is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musical ...

, as well as grants from the Department for Education and Skills and

Arts Council England Arts Council England is an arm's length non-departmental public body of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is also a registered charity. It was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three s ...

. When Lloyd Webber's sponsorship ended in 1999, the company's financial position became increasingly precarious. By early 2002, it was operating at a deficit and facing the threat of closure.

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broadc ...

(6 February 2002)
"Youth theatre 'faces closure'"
Retrieved 16 July 2012. In October 2003, the National Youth Music Theatre closed its performing company and offices in order to avoid insolvency. Most of its staff were laid off. Later that month Jon Bromwich, who had been the General Manager of NYMT, and other former staff set up a new organisation with similar aims,

British Youth Music Theatre British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT), formerly Youth Music Theatre UK, is a UK-based national performing arts organisation founded in December 2003. BYMT provides music theatre training to young people aged 11–21 and a stepping stone to drama ...

(formerly Youth Music Theatre: UK). Meanwhile, NYMT's lengthy negotiations with the Arts Council to obtain a recovery grant proved unsuccessful.

(19 March 2005)
"Jude Law defends theatre company"
Retrieved 16 July 2012. However, the NYMT remained active, concentrating largely on its workshop programmes while seeking alternative funding.

Relaunch – 2005 to the present

In October 2005, with its debts cleared, the company announced a relaunch with a Royal Charity Gala, attended by the NYMT's president, the

Earl of Wessex Earl of Wessex is a title that has been created twice in British history – once in the pre-Conquest Anglo-Saxon nobility of England, and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. In the 6th century AD the region of Wessex (the lands of the We ...

. It also collaborated with the

Ambassador Theatre Group The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) is a major international theatre organisation headquartered in the United Kingdom, with offices in Woking (head office), London, New York, Sydney, Mannheim and Cologne. ATG's key operations comprise three in ...

to perform excerpts from three Disney musicals for children before an audience of teachers, youth leaders and directors. In 2006, the NYMT returned to full productions with

's ''The Dreaming'' at the Tonbridge Arts Festival. In the following years they performed ''

Fiddler on the Roof ''Fiddler on the Roof'' is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in or around 1905. It is based on ''Tevye and his Daughters'' (or ''Tevye the ...

'' and '' Little Me'' (2007), '' Whistle Down the Wind'' and ''All Above Board'' (2008), and ''

The Hired Man ''The Hired Man'' is a novel by Melvyn Bragg, first published in 1969 by Secker and Warburg. It is the first part of Bragg's Cumbrian Trilogy. The story is set predominantly in the rural area around Thurston (Bragg's name for Wigton, his h ...

'' and ''Totally Over You'' (2009). Productions of ''

'' were staged in 2010 and 2011. The company marked its 35th anniversary at London's Vaudeville Theatre in April 2012 with a concert featuring some of NYMT's alumni who have gone on to professional acting careers, including

, Gina Beck,

Amy Nuttall Amy Abigail Nuttall (born 7 June 1982) is an English actress and singer known for playing Chloe Atkinson in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 2000 until 2005, and housemaid Ethel Parks in ITV period drama ''Downton Abbey''. Early life Nut ...

Lara Pulver Lara Pulver (born 1 September 1980) is an English actress. She has played Erin Watts in the BBC spy drama '' Spooks'' and Irene Adler on BBC's TV adaptation '' Sherlock''. She won the 2016 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical i ...

Michael Jibson Michael Jibson (born 16 December 1980) is an English actor, director, writer and voice over artist. Jibson started his career in the theatre. He has been nominated for an Olivier Award twice, once when he was only 22 in 2003, for his work on ...

, and Ian Virgo.Noonan, Catherine (18 April 2012)
"Blast from the past, Lucas & friends prepare for NYMT gala"

Whatsonstage.com WhatsOnStage.com is a London-based website that provides information about, and offers tickets for, theatrical performances in the United Kingdom. It also organises the annual WhatsOnStage Awards. Founded in 1996, it has been owned by the Americ ...

. Retrieved 19 July 2012. In August 2012

Jason Robert Brown Jason Robert Brown (born June 20, 1970) is an American musical theatre composer, lyricist, and playwright. Brown's music sensibility fuses pop-rock stylings with theatrical lyrics. He is the recipient of three Tony Awards for his work on ''Parad ...

collaborated with the NYMT to produce the West End première of his musical '' 13''. The NYMT's production, directed by Brown, ran for six performances at the

Apollo Theatre The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, in central London.

. Earlier in the month, Sarah Redmond directed the company's production of Brown's first musical theatre piece, '' Songs for a New World'', at the Bridewell Theatre. The company marked its 40th anniversary at London's

Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receivin ...

in 2016 in a show called 'Encore: 40th Anniversary Gala' including appearances from Lily James,

, Gina Beck, Gavin Spokes, Ben Barnes, Simon Thomas,

Jasper Britton Jasper Britton (born 11 December 1962) is an English actor. Early life and education Britton was born in Chelsea in London, and educated at Belmont Preparatory School, Sussex House School and Mill Hill School, north London. Britton is the o ...

, and

. In 2017 the company produced ''Imaginary'', a musical by Timothy Knapman and Stuart Matthew Price. Jeremy James Taylor, NYMT's founder, had retired as Artistic Director in 2004 but directed the company's 2006 production of ''The Dreaming'', the first full production after its relaunch, and went on to direct the NYMT's performances of the show for the 2012 International Youth Arts Festival. In the 2010

New Year Honours The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, with New Year's Day, 1 January, being marked by naming new members of orders of chivalry and recipients of other official honours. A number of other Commonwealth realms also mark this ...

, he was awarded an OBE "for services to young people and to musical theatre." File:LittleMe.jpg, ''Little Me'', 2007 File:WhistleDownTheWind.jpg, ''Whistle Down the Wind'', 2008 File:TheHiredMan.jpg, ''The Hired Man'', 2009 File:TotallyOverYou.jpg, ''Totally Over You'', 2009 File:SweeneyTodd.jpg, ''Sweeney Todd'', 2010 File:Sweeney Todd 2011.jpg, ''Sweeney Todd'', 2011 File:NYMT in Concert with Matt Lucas & Friends.jpg, NYMT in Concert with

, 2012 File:13 The Musical.jpg, '' 13'', 2012

Past performances

In addition to their live performances, the NYMT has been the subject of three BBC documentaries, ''Overture and Beginners'' (

Scottish Television Scottish Television (now, legally, known as STV Central Limited) is the ITV network franchisee for Central Scotland. The channel — the largest of the three ITV franchises in Scotland — has been in operation since 31 August 1957 and is th ...

, 1982), ''Kaleidoscope'' (

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC's ...

, 1982), and ''The Making of Bendigo Boswell'' (

BBC Television BBC Television is a service of the BBC. The corporation has operated a public broadcast television service in the United Kingdom, under the terms of a royal charter, since 1927. It produced television programmes from its own studios from 193 ...

, 1983). The company's complete performances of ''Bendigo Boswell'' and ''The Ragged Child'' were also televised by the BBC. ''The Ragged Child'' and ''Pendragon'' were each the subject of ITV documentaries. Other NYMT productions which were broadcast on television or radio include ''The Ballad of Salomon Pavey'' ( ATV, 1977), ''The Roman Invasion of Ramsbottom'' (

Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire but only on weekdays as ABC Weekend Television was its ...

, 1980), ''Witches!'' (Granada Television, 1981), and ''The Factory Children'' (

BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also featuring. The sta ...

, 1994).

Musical theatre

The following shows were all produced by the NYMT with the exception of '' The Indian Queen'' ( King's Consort production); ''Born of Glass'', ''Four Walls'', ''Nos Vie En Rose'', and ''Spider Dance'' (Generator Theatre productions); and ''The Goblin Market'', ''The Late Sleepers'', and ''Such Sweet Thunder'' (regional productions).Unless otherwise indicated, this section is sourced fro
Past Productions
on the official NYMT website. Retrieved 16 July 2012. *'' 13 The Musical'' (2012) *''Aesop'' (1991) *''All Above Board'' (2008) *'' Annie'' (1986, 1995) *''Aurelius'' (1997) *''The Ballad of Salomon Pavey'' (1976, 1977, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2000) *''

The Beggar's Opera ''The Beggar's Opera'' is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satiri ...

'' (1996, 1997) *''Bendigo Boswell'' (1982) *''Billy'' (1992) *''

Billy The Kid Billy the Kid (born Henry McCarty; September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), also known by the pseudonym William H. Bonney, was an outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West, who killed eight men before he was shot and killed at th ...

'' (2017) *''Bodywork'' (1987, 1994) *''Born of Glass'' (2003) *''BRASS'' (2014, 2016) *''Brilliant the Dinosaur'' (1993) *''

Bugsy Malone ''Bugsy Malone'' is a 1976 gangster musical comedy film written and directed by Alan Parker (in his feature film directorial debut). A co-production of United States and United Kingdom, it features an ensemble cast, featuring only child actor ...

'' (1996, 1997) *''Captain Stirrick'' (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989) *''

The Caucasian Chalk Circle ''The Caucasian Chalk Circle'' (german: Der kaukasische Kreidekreis) is a play by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. An example of Brecht's epic theatre, the play is a parable about a peasant girl who rescues a baby and becomes a ...

'' (1989, 1990) *''Creation'' (2000, 2001) *''Drake'' (1983, 1984, 1988) *''The Dreaming'' (2001, 2002, 2006, 2012) *''Facade'' (1981) *''The Factory Children'' (1994) *''Four Walls'' (2002) *''

'' (2007) *''Goblin Market'' (2003) *''

Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on " The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also b ...

'' (1991, 1992) *"Sweet Charity" (2015) *"Battle of Boat" (2016) *"

Spring Awakening (musical) ''Spring Awakening'' is a coming-of-age rock musical with music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater. It is based on the 1891 German play '' Spring Awakening'' by Frank Wedekind. Set in late 19th-century Germany, the musical tel ...

" (2016) *"

Sunday in the Park with George ''Sunday in the Park with George'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It was inspired by the French pointillist painter Georges Seurat's painting ''A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande J ...

" (2017) *''Helen Come Home, or Achilles the Heel'' (1978, 1984) *''

(2009, 2014) * ''Honk! the Musical'' (2017) *''The Indian Queen'' (1995) *''Into the Woods'' (1999, 2000) *''Imaginary'' (2017) *''Jack Spratt VC'' (1985) *''

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'' (often colloquially known as ''Joseph'') is a sung-through musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the character of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis. Th ...

'' (1986, 1989) *''The Kissing Dance'' (1998, 1999) *''The Late Sleepers (2002) *''The Leaving of Liverpool'' (1981) *'' Let's Make an Opera'' (1986, 1988) *''Lighting The Candle'' (1994) *''Little Me'' (2007) *''The Little Rats'' (1988, 1999) *'' Master Peter's Puppet Show'' (1984, 1989) *''Nos Vie En Rose'' (2002) *''Not Quite Bedtime'' (2000) *'' Noye's Fludde'' (1993, 1995) *''October's Children'' (1990, 1991) *''

'' (2002, 2003) *''

Oliver! ''Oliver!'' is a Coming-of-age story, coming-of-age Musical theatre, stage musical, with book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the 1838 novel ''Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens. It premiered at the Wimbledon Theatre ...

'' (1985, 1991, 1994) *''Once Upon a War'' (1990, 1991) *''Orvin'' (2003) *''The Other School - by Dougal Irvine'' (2013) *'' Pal Joey'' (1990) *"Super Hero" (2018) *"

A Little Princess ''A Little Princess'' is a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, first published as a book in 1905. It is an expanded version of the short story "Sara Crewe: or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's", which was serialized in ''St. Nicholas Ma ...

" (2018) *" The Beautiful Game (musical)" (2018) *"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (2018) *”Parade” (2019) *''Pendragon'' (1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001,2015) *''Play Extinct'' (1982) *''Poppy'' (1993) *''The Powder Monkeys'' (1984, 1985) *''The Piper of Hamelin'' (2016) *''The Ragged Child'' (1986, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2014) *''The Roman Invasion of Ramsbottom'' (1980, 1987) *''Saint Francis'' (1993) *'' Songs for a New World'' (2012) *''Spider Dance'' (2003) *''Stonehenge Arms Park'' (1980 *''Such Sweet Thunder'' (2003) *''

'' (2010, 2011) *''The Tailor of Gloucester'' (1989) *''

The Threepenny Opera ''The Threepenny Opera'' ( ) is a " play with music" by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from a translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann of John Gay's 18th-century English ballad opera, '' The Beggar's Opera'', and four ballads by François Villon, with mu ...

'' (1995, 1996) *''Tin Pan Ali, or The Sesame Street Racket'' (1979, 1982, 1997) *''Totally Over You'' (2009) *''The Tower of Babel'' (1983, 1984) *''The Ugly Duckling'' (2000) *''Warchild'' (1995, 1996, 1997) *''

West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play '' Romeo and Juliet'', the story is set in the mid ...

'' (2013) *'' Whistle Down The Wind'' (1993, 1994, 1996, 2008, 2013) *''Witches!'' (1981) *'' The Wizard of Oz'' (1998)

Concerts and galas

In addition to their own concerts and fundraising galas, NYMT has performed musical theatre excerpts on various other occasions, including: *Lord Shaftesbury Memorial Concert (

Royal Festival Hall The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a Grade I li ...

, 1985) *Children's

Royal Variety Show The ''Royal Variety Performance'' is a televised variety show held annually in the United Kingdom to raise money for the Royal Variety Charity (of which King Charles III is life-patron). It is attended by senior members of the British royal f ...

(

Dominion Theatre The Dominion Theatre is a West End theatre and former cinema on Tottenham Court Road, close to St Giles Circus and Centre Point, in the London Borough of Camden. Planned as primarily a musical theatre, it opened in 1929, but the following year ...

, 1991) *Anniversary Gala Concert for

Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elisabeth or Elizabeth the Queen may refer to: Queens regnant * Elizabeth I (1533–1603; ), Queen of England and Ireland * Elizabeth II (1926–2022; ), Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms * Queen ...

(

Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court Palace is a Grade I listed royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, southwest and upstream of central London on the River Thames. The building of the palace began in 1514 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the chie ...

, 1992) *Music for Youth School Proms (

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

, 1993, 1994, 2002) *

's 50th Birthday Tribute (Royal Albert Hall, 1998) *Queen Elizabeth's 80th Birthday (

Windsor Castle Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is strongly associated with the English and succeeding British royal family, and embodies almost a millennium of architectural history. The original c ...

, 2006) *In Concert with

and Friends ( Vaudeville Theatre, 2012)

Past members

Alumni and past members of the National Youth Music Theatre include: *

Martyn Andrews Martyn Andrews is a British TV executive producer, television presenter, broadcast journalist, actor and singer. He is currently works at TRT World News in Istanbul. He develops and produces TV formats and documentaries, makes other freelance t ...

Rae Baker Rachel Jane "Rae" Baker (born 19 November 1973) is an English actress most famous for playing Detective Constable Juliet Becker in the long running ITV drama ''The Bill.'' Career Born in Winchester, Hampshire, Baker joined the local Gilber ...

* Ben Barnes''The Dreaming''
. Official website of the composer,

. Retrieved 19 July 2012. *

Joseph Beattie Joseph Beattie (born 1978) is an English actor, known for portraying Malachi in the second season of '' Hex'' (2004) and Henry Crawford in ''Mansfield Park'' (2007). Background Beattie attended King Alfred School in Hampstead and later traine ...

* Gina Beck * Jamie Bell *

Charlotte Bellamy Charlotte Bellamy (born 19 March 1973) is an English actress. She is known for her long-running role as Laurel Thomas in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. Her other television roles include Sue Taylor in ''EastEnders'' (1997) and Harriet Potter ...

* Declan Bennett *

Zoe Birkett Zoe Birkett (born 16 June 1985) is an English singer and musical theatre performer. Birkett was the highest placing female contestant on Pop Idol in 2001 and later appeared on Big Brother. Her first single, Treat Me Like A Lady, was released ...

Robin Blaze Robin Blaze (born 1971 in Manchester) is an English countertenor. Early life The son of Peter Blaze, a professional golfer, and Christine, Blaze and his brother Mark grew up in Shadwell, near Leeds, and was educated at Leeds Grammar School, ...

Orlando Bloom Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Copeland Bloom (born 13 January 1977) is an English actor. He made his breakthrough as the character Legolas in ''The Lord of the Rings'' film series '' The Fellowship of the Ring'' (2001), '' The Two Towers'' (2002), ...

Douglas Booth Douglas John Booth (born 9 July 1992) is an English actor and musician. He first came to public attention following his performance as Boy George in the BBC Two film ''Worried About the Boy'' (2010). He also starred in the BBC adaptations of ' ...

James Bourne James Elliot Bourne (born 13 September 1983) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He is known as the co-founder of pop punk bands Busted and Son of Dork, and he also created his own electronic project: Future Boy. From 2013 to 2015 ...

* Lucy Bradshaw *

Jamie Campbell Bower James Metcalfe Campbell Bower (born 22 November 1988) is an English actor and singer. He made his feature film debut in 2007 with a supporting role in '' Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street''. He went on to feature in '' The Twiligh ...

Paul Cattermole Paul Gerald Cattermole (born 7 March 1977) is an English singer. He was a member of the group S Club 7, but left the group in 2002. Early life Cattermole was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire. He was a member of the National Youth Music Thea ...

* Tom Chambers *

Christian Coulson Christian Peter Coulson (born 3 October 1978) is an English actor known for playing young Tom Marvolo Riddle in the 2002 fantasy film ''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets''. Early life Coulson was born in Manchester. He attended Arnold Ho ...

Elliot Cowan Elliot Aidan Cowan (born 9 July 1976) is an English actor, known for portraying Corporal Jem Poynton in ''Ultimate Force'', Mr Darcy in ''Lost in Austen'', and Ptolemy in the 2004 film ''Alexander''. He also starred as Lorenzo de' Medici in ...

Misha Crosby Misha Crosby (born 28 January 1987) is a British director, actor and producer. Crosby was born and brought up in London. He won The Helmore Music Scholarship to Mill Hill School and lead a world premier on the violin at the Wigmore Hall at 14 y ...

Peter Darling Peter Darling (born 25 October 1963) is an English dancer and choreographer best known for his award-winning work in ''Billy Elliot the Musical''. In 2010 he choreographed ''Matilda the Musical'' at the RSC's Courtyard Theatre, which has since t ...

* Charles EdwardsGirvan, Andrew (21 February 2012
"NYMT alumni lend vocal support to Jude Law at bursary launch"

. Retrieved 21 February 2012. *

Idris Elba Idrissa Akuna Elba (; born 6 September 1972) is an English actor.

Kerry Ellis Kerry Jane Ellis (born 6 May 1979) is an English actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music. Born and raised in Suffolk, Ellis began performing at an early age before training at La ...

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* Katie Hall *

Nigel Harman Nigel Derek Harman (born 11 August 1973) is an English actor, best known for his role as Dennis Rickman in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders''. He has worked mostly in theatre. He starred in the final series of '' Hotel Baby ...

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"The model of an English burlesque"
''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...

''. Retrieved 19 July 2012. * Matthew Jones *

Toby Jones Tobias Edward Heslewood Jones''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com (born 7 September 1966) is an English actor. Jones made his film debut in Sally Potter's period drama '' Orlando'' in 1992. H ...

Laura Michelle Kelly Laura Michelle Kelly (born 4 March 1981) is an English actress and singer, best known for originating the roles of Mary Poppins in ''Mary Poppins'' in the West End, for which she received the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and S ...

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* Neil McDermott *

* Chiké Okonkwo *

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* Mica Penniman * Sue Perkins * Helen Power * Stuart Matthew Price *

* Eddie Redmayne *

Charlotte Ritchie Charlotte Anne Ritchie (born 29 August 1989) is an English actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Alison in ''Ghosts'', Oregon in Channel 4 comedy '' Fresh Meat'', Hannah in '' Siblings'', Alison in '' Dead Pixels'', Barbara Gilbe ...

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Nicky Spence Nicky Spence (born 1983) is a Scottish operatic tenor who performs in opera, oratorio and recital in both the UK and internationally. Life and career Spence was born and raised in Dumfries. He was educated at Wallace Hall Academy in Thorn ...

'' (26 October 2010)
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References

{{reflist

External links

Official website of National Youth Music TheatreNational Youth Music Theatre
on the official website of Jeremy James Taylor (Founder and Artistic Director 1976 - 2004)

NYMT's founding production, with complete cast list and rehearsal photos, on the official website of its co-author, David Drew-Smythe

on the official website of

''The Kissing Dance''
on the official website of

"Big Shots"
article on NYMT's production of ''

'', in the ''

Times Educational Supplement ''Tes'', formerly known as the ''Times Educational Supplement'', is a weekly UK publication aimed at education professionals. It was first published in 1910 as a pull-out supplement in ''The Times'' newspaper. Such was its popularity that in 19 ...

'' (14 November 1997)
Review of ''Bugsy Malone'' at the Queen's Theatre (1997)
by Melissa Davis for

Performing arts education in London Music charities based in the United Kingdom Youth theatre companies Musical theatre companies Youth charities based in the United Kingdom 1976 establishments in the United Kingdom Arts organizations established in 1976