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Fee Waivers, Digital Auditions and the return of the Auditions Access Fund

Posted 22 Jul 2023 by Joe Duggan

We want to make sure that everyone who wants to get involved with National Youth Theatre can, through a range of free and affordable routes into the company.

Today, as part of our ongoing commitment to access and inclusion we’re pleased to announce:

  • The return of the Auditions Access Fund supported by Hugh Bonneville
  • A new fee waiver scheme
  • Brand new £5 Digital Auditions

Auditions Access Fund

The Auditions Access Fund, supported by NYT Patron and alumnus Hugh Bonneville returns after a hugely successful first year. The 2019 programme saw us work with 10 partner organisations from Hartlepool to Pembrokeshire, Minehead to Cornwall and beyond, to engage over 200 young people in free drama workshops and audition days, and welcome over 30 young people from this activity onto our summer courses, who otherwise might not have been apply to apply..

We’re excited to announce our 2020 partners as:

  • Lourdes School, Glasgow
  • Black Ticket Project, London
  • Nuffield Southampton Theatres and Itchen College, Southampton
  • Pool Academy, Cornwall
  • The Playhouse, Derry
  • Theatre Royal, Plymouth
  • The Studio, Widnes
  • Theatr Clwyd, Flintshire (Details TBC)
  • Scarborough Tec, Scarborough

We’ll be working closely with our partners to recruit local young people to take part, who might not be able to engage with NYT otherwise.

If you’re 14-25 and local to the area, you can also apply to get involved directly here.

Fee Waiver

Today we also announce our new fee waiver scheme, offering automatic fee waivers for Auditions, Backstage Interviews and Company Membership if:

  • You are currently in care or are a care leaver
  • You are aged 14-25 and currently seeking asylum in the UK
  • You are a full time carer for a parent or sibling
  • You are a single parent and currently aged 14-25
  • You are under 18 and in receipt of free school meals

The new fee waiver scheme will sit alongside our current Bursary Fund, and those who do not meet the criteria for a fee waiver are encouraged to apply for bursary support if they require it.

Bursaries are available to support young people taking part in our Auditions and Interviews, our courses, productions and projects, and in activating their Company Membership.

We will also be continuing our Islington Pledge fee waiver scheme, established in 2019, which offers Islington residents who meet outlined criteria a free NYT Audition or Backstage Interview.

Digital Auditions

Finally, this year we're piloting NYT Digital Auditions, where young people who live 25 miles away from our auditions venues can pay a fiver and submit a five minute video as an applications for our 2020 summer courses and National Youth Theatre membership.

Applications are also open to young people with a disability or other health condition who might prefer to audition remotely.

Find out more and apply