YOU 2.0 cast auditions

Rehearsed on Mondays and occasional Sundays
Performed in March and May
School Years 9 to Year 13

 

To sign up for the audition, please complete the rehearsal availability form.

 

We are looking for actors to join us for our latest National Theatre Connections play YOU 2.0, following on from previous years’ productions of Your Name is Dead, Model Behaviour, Hunt and The IT. You don’t need to have done anything with us before, nor do you need to have been in any shows before.

 

Strangers Martha and Isaac find themselves forced into playing YOU 2.0, a new therapy video game designed to help players access their better selves. As they tackle the levels in two player mode, the pair form an unlikely friendship behind the anonymity of their gaming avatars, but their impact on each other’s lives goes much deeper than the game.

Performing in YOU 2.0 will be an exciting opportunity for young people who are interested developing their acting and movement skills, as well as skills in ensemble theatre making. Alongside scripted scenes there are opportunities for the cast to devise video gaming scenes/ movement sequences and to put their own unique stamp on the play. It has a beautiful balance of comedy and sadness, and will be an exciting challenge for any young actor.

Age suitability: School Year 9 and above due to discussions of mental health, allusion of self-harm, mild language, discussion of bereavement, reference to chronic illness.

 

Roles

Martha
Martha is a 16 year old student who is forced to play You 2.0 by concerned teachers. She has recently been excluded from school for stealing but all is not as it seems. As she plays the game, we see that Martha relies on dark humour and cynicism to cope with her difficult home life and to hide her struggles from those around. Her actions have the best of intentions but unintended consequences. She is sharp and forthright but not mean, and there is a goofiness to her which comes out as the play progresses.

Isaac
Isaac is a 16 year old student who has chosen to play You 2.0, after a teacher has recommended the game. He has recently lost his mother and the people around him are not all sympathetic towards his grief. He has always had a big group of friends but has recently began to feel isolated. He is kind, reliable and always gives people the benefit of the doubt – even if they perhaps do not deserve it. As the play develops Isaac opens up to Martha about his struggles and learns how to cope with his overwhelming emotions.

Ivy – 12
Ivy is Martha’s younger sister. She is happy-go-lucky, excitable and very innocent. She is oblivious many of the to issues that are happening at home because she has been shielded from them by her sister. She looks up to Martha and will do as she says.

Danny & Lucas – 16
They are good friends of Isaac, and the three of them have been close for a long time. However, recently they have been struggling to connect with Isaac in the way that they used to. They know that Isaac is has had a difficult year and are sympathetic to a point, but they do not know what they can do to help the situation and therefore try to continue as if nothing is wrong. They want Isaac to be how he used to be, and do not understand the trauma he has been through.

Headmaster – 60s
The headmaster is a strict but fair. They have a traditional approach to discipline but are open to more modern teaching methods – such as implementing You 2.0.

Mrs Edwards – 30s/40s
A geography teacher at Martha and Isaac’s school. She is generous and supportive.

Ruth – 40s
Martha’s Mum. She is struggling as a single mum in a low income job to balance work and family life. She loves Martha unconditionally but has not been able to spend much time with her recently. She relies on Martha for emotional support and help around the house.

Screw This
Martha’s gaming avatar. Screw this represents Martha’s personality online, where she behaves differently to how she would in the real world and where she opens up about what is challenging in her life. Screw this is a very comical role which would be very suited to a performer with physical comedy skills.

Dead Inside
Isaac’s gaming avatar. Dead inside represents Isaac’s online personality, where he feels he can escape the real world and the challenges he is facing. Dead Inside engages with the task in the video game in a positive way, and always does their best to complete them.

Avatars
There are many ensemble roles which are Avatars in the game You 2.0. These role are very high energy and comical. They guide Martha and Isaac’s avatars through the various tasks within the game as well as offering them support and insight when needed.

 

We will be holding one, in-person audition on Monday 13 January, 5.30pm – 7.30pm at Trinity Theatre. If you want to take part and cannot make that, please sign up and we will be in contact to arrange an alternative. You don’t need to prepare anything for it, though we recommend reading the script (send us an email to ask for a copy).

Once you are signed up, you are expected at all of the rehearsals you are called for. Failure to do so will impact your chances with future productions, and your role may be recast.

 

We will be performing the show on the following dates:

• Sunday 30 and Monday 31 March – Trinity Theatre
• Saturday 26 April – The Gulbenkian, Canterbury

 

 

To sign up for the audition, please complete the rehearsal availability form.

 

To sign up for the audition, please complete the rehearsal availability form.