EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: DOWNTON ABBEY's Daisy Lewis Praises the National Youth Theatre

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT), the UK's leading youth arts organisation, is holding auditions and interviews across the country for its 2017 acting and backstage summer courses. Successful applicants will follow in the footsteps of alumni such as Helen Mirren, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Craig and Matt Smith, getting the chance to develop their talent with the NYT. In 2016 the company auditioned a record 4830 young people and received their best ever West End audience figures for their Gala and REP shows which were also visited by schools from every borough across Greater London.

Daisy Lewis, star of ITV's Downton Abbey, paid tribute to NYT for supporting her in her early career development: "We create Olympic storytellers in this country and the National Youth Theatre is Team GB. It was where I grew up, where I learned how to be an actor, but more importantly how to be a member of a diverse society where I was judged solely on merit. I would not be who I am or have had the career I love without the NYT. Even if you don't think you're going to be an actor you should audition because it's an amazing experience." Check out the video of her below!

The NYT's application process gives applicants from all backgrounds across the UK the chance to join the prestigious company and build careers in the industry whilst learning to work with other young people. The courses provide skills development in theatre and theatre practice, voice and movement.

Alongside acting auditions throughout the UK, NYT will also be hosting inspiring workshops in a number of key skills-based areas. Backstage Courses will be led by industry experts in dedicated courses in Lighting and Sound, Stage Management, Scenic Construction, and Costume. As well as this, the organisation will offer masterclass courses in Acting for the Screen, Audition Technique, Performing Shakespeare and Music Theatre. The expert-led courses will run in February 2017 half-term.

Artistic Director Paul Roseby said: "We want to meet any young person with a spark looking for a life-changing experience, regardless of whether they've acted before, what they look like or where they come from. We're proud to have offered a home for undiscovered young talent for the last 60 years and to celebrate the voices of Britain's brilliantly diverse youth. Everyone can feel like a misfit until they find an identity and a home and many young people find that at the National Youth Theatre. I can't wait to meet young people from across the country and see them start their stories with us this year."

After a successful audition for NYT's Intake Acting Course, applicants aged 14-17 will gain a space on NYT's Junior Acting Course; successful applicants aged 18-25 will join NYT's three week Senior Acting Course or a four week Epic Stages Course. Intake courses take place in August. Acting Auditions consist of a three hour group workshop and an individual performance of a prepared speech. Speeches should be from a published play and learned by heart. The NYT membership that participants receive on completion will allow them the opportunity to showcase their acting abilities through the NYT's productions, locally, nationally and internationally. As part of membership participants can also be considered to be part of the NYT REP Company, a free alternative to formal training that offers a group of members workshops with leading practitioners and the chance to perform three productions in the West End.

Audition dates are now on sale and can be purchased here.

Applicants need to apply by 6 February. Auditions cost £46 and the NYT operate a bursary fund for those suffering from financial hardship. This year they have given away a record £140,000 worth of bursaries.

More information and how to join can be found on the National Youth Theatre's website at www.nyt.org.uk and you can follow the organisation on Twitter @NYTofGB.