A striking new look and a revitalised strategic direction have been announced for the The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT).
A striking new look and a revitalised strategic direction have been announced for the leading youth arts organisation, The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT). After decades of groundbreaking work that has shaped generations of music theatre talent, this marks a significant turning point for the organisation. As the NYMT heads towards its 50th year celebration of delivering exceptional opportunities for talented young people aged 10-23, it also embraces a bolder call to action to create more pathways within the arts for young people.
Central to its reimagining, NYMT has revealed it is moving its operations to Birmingham. It will partner with Birmingham Hippodrome to present its 2025 season; with other creative and educational organisations to develop new activities for young people; and from 2025 will establish an office in the region. By doing this the organisation aims to position itself at the heart of British music theatre. This strategic location will not only enhance NYMT’s national presence but mark the start of the expansion of its international reach, continuing to facilitate high-quality training and collaborations across the arts.
Adrian Packer, CEO of the National Youth Music Theatre, comments, I’ve set up and run schools in Birmingham over the past 15 years. I know from my own direct positive experiences that the city and indeed the whole West Midlands region is a perfect match for NYMT. I’m excited to lead the organisation into this new era, connecting with a diverse range of partners and reaching new audiences, building on our already well-established national and international reach. As we head towards our 50th year, I feel incredibly privileged to lead NYMT as we establish our new identity in the heart of England and continue to lead the way as one of the UK’s most respected youth theatre companies.
Just under a thousand performers auditioned with all being offered places in the NYMT 2024 company. They will all be following in the footsteps of the patrons and further NYMT alumni including multi-award-winning household name Idris Elba, Phantom of the Opera’s Joe Griffiths-Brown, Hamilton’s Mike Jibson and Les Misérables’ Rosy Church. The newly appointed patrons for this year included previous alumni - critically acclaimed Matt Lucas, the award-winning Amara Okereke and It’s a Sin’s Callum Scott Howells.
NYMT welcomes everyone to get involved and is committed to making music theatre and the professional industry more accessible to young people across the country, regardless of location or economic circumstances.
Further Information: Welcome - National Youth Music Theatre