Leading youth arts organisation The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) is celebrating being awarded the Guinness World Record for most complete costume changes in a lead theatrical role, with 37 changes in their production Our House.
The record was set by 2024 NYMT company member Des Coghlan-Forbes (17 years old from North Somerset), who played the titular role of Joe Casey; he was assisted by Costume Designer Molly Fraser and Wardrobe Assistant Lucy Vickers (18 years old from Lincolnshire). With music and lyrics by the iconic British band Madness and the book by playwright Tim Firth, the high-energy tour-de-force musical ran at the Southwark Playhouse, Elephant.
The previous record was held by costume designer Paul Kieve, who completed 29 changes in the original West End production of the show with patron and NYMT alumni Olivier award-winner Mike Jibson (Hamilton; Our House; Stranger Things), who originated the role of Joe Casey.
For nearly 50 years, NYMT has been at the forefront of offering exceptional opportunities in pre-professional musical theatre training for talented young people. The 2024 summer season has already featured Stephen Sondheim’s timeless classic Into the Woods and an ambitious new folk musical, Catastrophe Bay, written by Kit Buchan and James Barne.
Chris Cuming, Artistic Director of NYMT, comments, “At every point, NYMT works tirelessly to support, nurture and develop individuals involved on and off stage – it is with immeasurable pride that we can announce this Guinness World Records news. It truly recognises some of these outstanding achievements of stagecraft from the production, and the handing of the title from one NYMT member to another makes it even better. I am so honoured to lead an organisation that prides itself on its professionalism and ambition in what we achieve and will achieve. This is a testament to the talent across the companies with which we work year after year and kicks off a new era”.
Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records Assessor, comments, “Guinness World Records is passionate about encouraging young people to take on the challenge of breaking a record, so I was thrilled to be able to witness Des achieve so many quick changes during Our House – some of them in under five seconds. What a remarkably talented young performer! I’ve always been a big fan of The National Youth Music Theatre – it’s such an inspirational organisation, and as the team has just proved, this versatile family of actors and creatives can turn their hand to anything. Congratulations to Joe, Molly and Lucy for adding such a spectacle to an already awesome night at the theatre”.
The NYMT 2024 companies’ work this summer culminates in the PLATFORM and CRESENDO projects, which are designed to provide young artists with a sustained opportunity to showcase their talents and express their unique artistic identities. The project spotlights a company of dynamic and inspiring individuals whose instincts and knowledge have been supported and nurtured in creating a performance alongside a world-class creative team.
Just under a thousand performers auditioned to join the NYMT 2024 company, who will all be following in the footsteps of the newly appointed patrons and further NYMT alumni, including multi-award-winning household name Idris Elba, Phantom of the Opera’s Joe Griffiths-Brown, beloved screen and stage icon Sheridan Smith, and Les Misérables’ Rosy Church. The newly appointed patrons include previous alumni – critically acclaimed Matt Lucas, the award-winning Amara Okereke, and It’s a Sin’s Callum Scott Howells. Industry professionals delivered audition workshops at 19 venues across the UK at the start of the year. Alongside these, NYMT has seen an increase in applications to join the company as Musicians and the Creative Team Mentorship Scheme.
NYMT is committed to delivering top-quality professional development. This year, it is releasing new courses not only for stage performers but also for people interested in becoming Creative Writers or working in Technical Theatre. These are non-residential courses in London that include watching a Technical and dress rehearsal at Southwark Playhouse and working with Industry Professionals. It offers skills workshops, masterclasses, and residential courses.
Everyone is welcome to get involved. NYMT is committed to making musical theatre and the professional industry more accessible to young people across the country, regardless of location or economic circumstances. National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) is committed to an inclusive and accessible ethos. This year, NYMT is offering £31,000 bursaries from its bursary system to support under-resourced families. For more information, visit NYMT.
Follow Us