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We are thrilled to share that Salma (Year 10) has been offered a place with the prestigious National Youth Theatre (NYT) following a highly competitive audition process.
With over 6,000 applicants and only 700 places awarded nationwide, this is an outstanding achievement. The result is a testament to Salma’s talent and commitment, and reflects the passion our pupils bring to the arts. Salma has been a dedicated member of the Drama Department at RMS for many years, with standout roles including Ursula in The Little Mermaid and one of the queens in SIX: The Musical. Salma is currently taking on a leadership role as the Student Assistant Director for our Year 7–9 production of The Three Musketeers.
We caught up with Salma to learn more about this remarkable achievement, the audition experience, and aspirations for the future.
Hi, my name is Salma, A year 10 student at RMS, I’m passionate about the arts, visual as well as performing and music. In my free time I try sketching or painting and I just got into the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.
How did you feel when you were offered a place at the National Youth Theatre?
When I was first offered a place, I think I screamed loud enough for all the boarding houses to hear. I remember I was just coming out of the sports hall when I saw the email and I felt absolutely over the moon. It was really emotional, it’s hard to believe I’ve been offered such an amazing, unreal opportunity and I’m just really grateful and excited.
What does getting into the National Youth Theatre mean to you personally?
Getting into National Youth Theatre means being introduced to a whole new community and world of experiences I've only dreamed of having. It means I can get professional help achieving my aspirations to become a theatre actress while building lifelong relationships with people who hold the same values. It means I can show my family and people I love how hard I'm ready to work to achieve my goals so this really means the world to me.
Can you tell us a bit about the audition process and what you had to do?
So first, I submitted a video audition of myself performing a monologue and answering the questions : why do you want to join NYT? What is your passion besides Acting? What is a fun fact about you? I had the incredible opportunity to record in our recording studio Here at RMS, I was able to record multiple takes and send the one I was most happy with. After a few weeks the results day came and I checked my Email and found nothing only to check again later in the day to find a successful result saying I had made it through to recalls. For the recalls, I prepared a different piece to perform but instead of a video to send, It was a live call with an auditioner Which was really nerve wracking. This time I couldn’t redo takes. I also prepared a song to sing -This was optional, and finally the auditioner asked a few questions about me and my aspirations. After the call the rest was really just to wait – a long agony inducing wait, and thankfully I got in !
What are you most excited about now that you’ve been accepted?
I’m most excited to see how my future will be impacted and to see how my understanding of the field deepens and expands. I’m also really excited to meet people and have the experience, just doing what I love with people that love it as much as me. It’s a gift in itself.
What advice would you give to other students thinking about auditioning for NYT in the future?
Just go for it. They don't look at how much experience you have or if you got a 9 in your GCSEs or if you even take the subject at school. They cater for disabilities and offer bursaries so really all you need is the drive and courage to want it enough. If you don't get in the first time, You can always re- audition and once you’re in, you are in. Don't let fear and insecurities stop you from reaching for the stars, Just go for it.
Congratulations to Salma – we can’t wait to see what you do next, both on and off the stage!