Let It Snow | Woolwich Works

British Youth Music Theatre's (BYMT) Let It Snow is the annual end of year celebration of all that they have achieved throughout the year, culminating in showcases from the six new musicals that were staged, little teasers for the following year and of course, the announcement of the winner of the New Music Theatre Award. Let It Snow allows students, supporters, family, friends and other artists to experience the highlights of the year, as well as giving the young performers a chance to reunite and perform together again. 

BYMT is a wonderful and long running initiative that provides safe and supportive training and environments for young performers (11-21). BYMT is also the largest commissioner of new musicals that are actually voted on by a youth panel, allowing young representatives to choose the shows that they'd like to work on firsthand. BYMT has also put community at its heart, ensuring that each year of youth are given an unforgettable experience that leads to a lifelong love for performing. 

This year, BYMT has worked with 438 young people, 150 freelance artists, technicians and staff consistently throughout the year. Through their Discover Music Theatre workshops, audition coaching and summer workshops, they have also engaged with a further 1230 young performers. 

Let It Snow was beautifully opened by Grace Mouat, a BYMT alumni who spoke of her own experiences as a young performer and gave invaluable insight and advice to the current cohort of students. Mouat, who has an extensive list of musical credits including 13 Going on 30 for which she received a recent award nomination, Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, & Juliet, Be More Chill, The Great British Bake Off Musical, and the original cast of SIX and more, also spoke about the importance of new musicals and how she has continued to champion this over her own career. 

The evening was split into two acts, with three shows performing in each act. The shows were introduced by a trailer on screen that also incorporated interview clips from the creative team, the writers and the young performers. These trailers both offered an insight into the finished production and how meaningful it was to all those involved; but also helped place the songs in context for attendees of the evening. Each act also featured an original number performed by the young performers. The show's closing number Snow After All featured the entire 2025 cohort singing a gorgeous original number by BYMT's Cameron Mackintosh Resident Writers, Clare Packham and Fintan Kealy, with Musical Direction by Ben McQuigg. 

The six new musicals were wonderfully varied, containing a wide variety of genres and styles. The Naughty Carriage on the Orphan Train by Luke Saydon and Carl Miller and directed by Emily Gray, is based on a true story, and allows the young cast to explore what it means to find community, and to have fun and lean into being themselves on stage. Choreomania by Evie Press and Evie Atkins and directed by Denzel Westley-Sanderson is also based on a true story, allowing for the young cast to discover and develop their dance skills, whilst taking on an expectation defying musical genre. Sense and Sensibility by Thomas F Arnold and Grace O'Keefe with direction from Mumba Dodwell is based on Jane Austen's beloved classic but has been reimagined, allowing for the tale to focus on the coming of age of the characters as opposed to the romance, whilst also giving the young performers the opportunity to visit a new period of time. 

Theo In Between is a gorgeous new musical by Gareth Mattey and Jordan Li Smith and directed by Dean Johnson, focusing on being the "other" and having to find a place to belong, really validating the experiences of young performers and welcoming them as they are. Worn Out by Zoe Morris and Meg McGrady with direction from Francesca Goodridge is a reimagining of The 12 Dancing Princess, turning a tale of princesses into a revolution to reclaim their power and find their voices. The Glamification of Loki by Eden Tredwell and directed by Grace Taylor explores Norse Mythology and subverts the constant search for youth and beauty, choosing the power to be proud of yourself as you are. 

Each of the new musicals selected not only are fantastic pieces of musical theatre in of themselves, but all have been carefully selected by the youth panel. These musicals are powerful, revolutionary, exciting, challenging and a beautiful reminder of self-love, acceptance, friendship, community, love and more; a ringing endorsement of BYMT's goals. 

The evening was brought to a close in a speech by BYMT's creative director, Emily Gray, and the highly anticipated announcement of the NMTA winner, selected by the youth panel. The New Music Theatre Award 2025 winner is Sea Change, a folk musical by Will Jackson and Elinor Peregrin, and will be produced and performed by BYMT in the summer of 2026.

Let It Snow is a beautiful testament to the amazing achievements of BYMT over the year, as well as a celebration of new work and young talent across the board; an initiative like no other that truly truly makes all the difference.

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