Let it Snow is this years festive offering from British Youth Music Theatre's (BYMT), where all the young members of the company come together to perform highlights of the year's work in a singing showcase. Alongside this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the performers and support the milestones achieved, it also reminds one of the importance of youth theatre. Let It Snow also announced the winner of the BYMT's New Music Theatre Award, with previous winners including the recent award winning and highly acclaimed Babies, which was recently staged at The Other Palace.
BYMT, which is headed by artistic director Emily Gray, is a national performing arts education charity that provides over 1000 young performers (aged 11-21) the opportunity to train and perform on stage. BYMT also commissions more new musicals than any other organisation, as they exclusively only workshop, develop and stage original musicals with their young company. Many of these musicals have gone on to have longer runs, with a few even making it to the West End. The young performers are given a safe and supportive space to develop their skills, develop their talents and build experience and confidence. With a dedicated pastoral carers, the young performers are nurtured in an encouraging environment. According to a recent survey, over 95% of BYMT members go on to continue performing on stages.
BYMT alumni include West End Performers such as Bronté Barbe (Newsies), Jamie Muscato (Heathers), Luke Bayer (DIVA), Grace Mouat (Mean Girls), Bradley Jaden (Les Miserables), Dean John-Wilson (Death Note) and many, many more. The impressive list of alumni also include mainstream singers such as Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith.
In 2024, BYMT commissioned and staged 7 new musicals; devising them initially as workshops and following the development through to complete staged full fledged productions, performed all around the UK. This year's line up includes Unbound, Animal Farm, Wonderland in Alice, Welcome to Serene, The Power of Camelot, All Growed Up and When We Strike. Let It Snow featured 3-4 songs from each of the shows staged in 2024, with an additional few surprises spread over two hours. The young performers perform the songs from their respective musicals in their original casts.
Let It Snow also included a short film of "BURST!", a culmination of a week long partnership with the Candoco Dance Company that features disabled and non-disabled dancers alike to perform in an outdoor public space, encouraging participants to have fun and take up space. BYMT also included a Camp Medley, for it's Easter, Summer and Autumn Camp participants to join in, singing songs from a variety of other original musicals that had been workshopped in Camp. The show was concluded with a full company original seasonal song (Peacefully Falls The Snow, written and composed by Amir Shoenfeld).
Long term BYMT performer, Amelie Lloyd, who has trained from ages 14-21, opened the second act of Let It Snow with a heartfelt and emotional speech about her own journey and experiences, and this reminded the audience of the importance of funding and supporting the BYMT for young aspiring performers to follow their dreams. Although brief, it's a moving speech, particularly as Lloyd takes her final bow with the company at the event.
BYMT's Let It Snow annual event is a wonderful opportunity to see and support young talent, and by doing so, youth-oriented organisations. The organisation closes its 2024 season, but not without announcing a few exciting shows for 2025, which I would recommend keeping an eye out for!
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