National Youth Theatre free auditions to take place in Liverpool this year

National Youth Theatre has unveiled dates for its largest-ever round of free auditions, set to take place across 14 UK cities in 2025, alongside video and school-based auditions.

National Youth Theatre Auditions will be hosted in Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Glasgow, London, Leeds, Belfast, Manchester, Newcastle, Perth, Poole, and Sheffield, with Welsh dates to be announced.

The auditions are open to young people aged 14-25, and to disabled and neurodivergent individuals up to the age of 30.

This groundbreaking initiative continues National Youth Theatre’s (NYT) commitment to making creative opportunities accessible to young people nationwide.

NYT Auditions offer a relaxed audition environment where participants can get a sense of what it’s like to be part of the NYT community and what courses are best suited to them.

Auditionees will also have the chance to ask questions and meet like minded creatives from across their region.

Liverpool auditions will take place on 15 March at LIPA where previous NYT members include Con O’Neil and Simon Lennon.

Young people can also send a video audition online from wherever they are based in the UK.

To apply via the digital auditions route, auditionees simply need to record a video of themselves performing a monologue and answering a series of questions listed on the NYT website – visit nyt.org.uk/auditions/digital.

Over 50 schools will also be participating in school auditions across the nation.

Taking place for the first time this year, an Audition Choice Award will see two young people from each location selected to receive a free course of study with the NYT and free accommodation on over 18 courses where accommodation is offered during their learning time.

There will also be two recipients selected from online auditionees and a school with stand out talent will also be recognised.

Paul Roseby OBE, CEO & Artistic Director of National Youth Theatre, said:

“Start your 2025 story with a free National Youth Theatre audition. We’re offering free auditions at more locations than ever before this year. At every location our new Audition Choice Award will offer a completely free place to a stand out auditionee. In addition to our already extensive free offer, we’re adding this extra element to recognise outstanding talent at each of our audition days around the UK.

“We’re also auditioning in more than 50 schools and young people anywhere in the UK can audition via video, making it our most accessible audition round ever.”

Established in 1956 as the world’s first youth theatre, NYT produces ambitious theatrical productions in local communities, on leading global stages and in unusual spaces across the UK and beyond.

National Youth Theatre is a creative home for young storytelling talent. Inclusion is at NYT’s heart and its members come from a wide range of backgrounds and all around the UK. Global stars who started their journey with the charity include Ed Sheeran, Daniel Craig, Helen Mirren, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rosamund Pike, Adeel Akhtar, Florence Pugh, Rege Jean-Page, Olly Alexander, Matt Smith, Vanessa Kirby, Zawe Ashton, Paapa Essiedu and many more.