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National Young Performer Awards
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2025 Criteria for Musical Theatre
A: Competitors shall be 15 and under 21 years of age as at 1st October 2025.
B. Each competitor shall perform in three classes during the preliminary round:
1. Piece 1: Stand alone, independent piece from a fully staged musical and NOT from a TV adaption. Maximum of seven minutes in duration
2. Piece 2: Stand alone, independent piece from a fully staged musical and NOT from a TV adaption. Maximum of seven minutes in duration
3. Master Class – run by the Adjudicators. No audience observation.
C. The two Pieces in B1 and B2 must NOT be from the same Musical and MUST show breadth of repertoire with Piece 2 showing a clear contrast to Piece 1.
D. Both Piece 1 AND Piece 2 MUST each include at least one example of scene into song.
E. The spoken excerpt of the scene into song, can be taken either from the original published musical theatre work OR devised by the competitor and
should develop character and story.
F. Both Piece 1 and Piece 2 MUST feature the integration of acting, singing and dance and competitors must perform all three.
G. Props are permitted but they must be handheld and not require any assistance.
H. A backing track MUST be provided and will include music and silence as required for the full performance. There will be NO cueing from the Stage
Manager. The track will be cued at the start of each Piece and will not be touched again.
I. A penalty of 5 marks will be imposed if the time limit is exceeded by 30 seconds or more.
J. There will be a semi-final at which competitors will repeat either B1 or B2 at the discretion of the adjudicator. Competitors will be chosen based on their
marks in the three Preliminary round(s).
The number of semi-finalists will be decided in accordance with the NYPA rules.
K. For the Final Award Concert, three competitors will be recalled and shall repeat the item not performed at the semi-final.
L. Costumes, choreography & music should be appropriate to the age of the competitors and suitable for a family audience – this will be at the Adjudicators’
discretion.
M. This competition is for amateur performers only and is not open to professionals*.
NB: Males can sing female roles and vice-versa. No distinction between genders.
Nomination of competitors by Societies should be based on classes B1 -B2 i.e. with or without the Master Class
B. Each competitor shall perform in three classes during the preliminary round:
1. Piece 1: Stand alone, independent piece from a fully staged musical and NOT from a TV adaption. Maximum of seven minutes in duration
2. Piece 2: Stand alone, independent piece from a fully staged musical and NOT from a TV adaption. Maximum of seven minutes in duration
3. Master Class – run by the Adjudicators. No audience observation.
C. The two Pieces in B1 and B2 must NOT be from the same Musical and MUST show breadth of repertoire with Piece 2 showing a clear contrast to Piece 1.
D. Both Piece 1 AND Piece 2 MUST each include at least one example of scene into song.
E. The spoken excerpt of the scene into song, can be taken either from the original published musical theatre work OR devised by the competitor and
should develop character and story.
F. Both Piece 1 and Piece 2 MUST feature the integration of acting, singing and dance and competitors must perform all three.
G. Props are permitted but they must be handheld and not require any assistance.
H. A backing track MUST be provided and will include music and silence as required for the full performance. There will be NO cueing from the Stage
Manager. The track will be cued at the start of each Piece and will not be touched again.
I. A penalty of 5 marks will be imposed if the time limit is exceeded by 30 seconds or more.
J. There will be a semi-final at which competitors will repeat either B1 or B2 at the discretion of the adjudicator. Competitors will be chosen based on their
marks in the three Preliminary round(s).
The number of semi-finalists will be decided in accordance with the NYPA rules.
K. For the Final Award Concert, three competitors will be recalled and shall repeat the item not performed at the semi-final.
L. Costumes, choreography & music should be appropriate to the age of the competitors and suitable for a family audience – this will be at the Adjudicators’
discretion.
M. This competition is for amateur performers only and is not open to professionals*.
NB: Males can sing female roles and vice-versa. No distinction between genders.
Nomination of competitors by Societies should be based on classes B1 -B2 i.e. with or without the Master Class
Society Nomination
Each Society, which is a financial member of PACANZ, may nominate up to two competitors, who shall be selected by the adjudicator, based on a performance as outlined in A-D (above).
The adjudicator will determine that a competitor has displayed a sufficient standard of performance to competently represent that society at the National Young Performer Awards.
The standard required will be at the absolute discretion of the adjudicator but will include;
The Nominating Society is responsible for paying part of the entry fee to the National Young Performer Awards, which is $75.00 incl gst.
The Nominee is responsible for paying their portion of the entry fee to the National Young Performer
Awards, which is $230.00 incl gst.
The adjudicator will determine that a competitor has displayed a sufficient standard of performance to competently represent that society at the National Young Performer Awards.
The standard required will be at the absolute discretion of the adjudicator but will include;
- A demonstration of adequate preparation and an authority of performance
- A performance with a level of maturity commensurate with a national final competition of this age group.
The Nominating Society is responsible for paying part of the entry fee to the National Young Performer Awards, which is $75.00 incl gst.
The Nominee is responsible for paying their portion of the entry fee to the National Young Performer
Awards, which is $230.00 incl gst.
Direct Nomination
Via a Competition Society Member
If the adjudicator considers that more than two competitors have reached a sufficient standard, the adjudicator may report to the committee that those competitors should be given the option of a Direct NOMINATION.
Via a Tertiary Institution Member
Nominations may also be put forward if Musical Theatre students have reached a sufficient standard and can meet the Criteria listed above.
The Direct Nomination competitor will be responsible for paying the full entry fee, which is $305.00 incl gst.
* A professional is someone whose primary employment is being paid to perform or work in the performing arts. For the present purposes, being a student constitutes “primary employment” and therefore is not seen as a Professional. For the Student who receives payment for participation, either teaching or performing, this should not impose professional status on a person if it is by way only of an occasional bonus or benefit rather than their principal means of earning a livelihood.
If the adjudicator considers that more than two competitors have reached a sufficient standard, the adjudicator may report to the committee that those competitors should be given the option of a Direct NOMINATION.
Via a Tertiary Institution Member
Nominations may also be put forward if Musical Theatre students have reached a sufficient standard and can meet the Criteria listed above.
The Direct Nomination competitor will be responsible for paying the full entry fee, which is $305.00 incl gst.
* A professional is someone whose primary employment is being paid to perform or work in the performing arts. For the present purposes, being a student constitutes “primary employment” and therefore is not seen as a Professional. For the Student who receives payment for participation, either teaching or performing, this should not impose professional status on a person if it is by way only of an occasional bonus or benefit rather than their principal means of earning a livelihood.