Level Up: Everyman Youth Theatre Takes YOU 2.0 to the National Stage

This spring, Cardiff’s Everyman Youth Theatre steps into the national spotlight with YOU 2.0, a sharp, deeply empathetic new play by Welsh writer Alys Metcalf. Performed as part of the National Theatre’s Connections 2025 festival—now celebrating its 30th anniversary—this production marks a significant milestone for the company, placing them among just 260 youth theatres selected from across the UK.

In YOU 2.0, two strangers—Martha and Isaac—are thrust together inside a therapeutic video game designed to help players access their “better selves”. Behind the anonymity of their gaming avatars, they navigate a series of increasingly personal levels, forging a connection that reaches far beyond the digital world. The result is a contemporary, inventive exploration of friendship, vulnerability, and the complexities of mental health.

Metcalf, who trained under the Royal Court and boasts credits ranging from the Rose Theatre to the BBC Comedy Room, has a gift for storytelling that blends emotional insight with playful form. With YOU 2.0, she delivers a script that is both achingly truthful and theatrically agile—ideal for a youth ensemble ready to tackle big ideas with heart and honesty.

For Everyman Youth Theatre, the production is more than just a performance—it’s a celebration of Welsh creativity on a national platform. That the company has been selected for Connections two years in a row is a rare feat in itself, made possible through the passionate leadership of Sarah Bawler, whose tireless work continues to secure opportunities for young performers in Cardiff.

As the Everyman ensemble brings Metcalf’s narrative to life, they not only showcase the strength of local talent but embody what Connections has championed for three decades: that when given space and support, young people will respond with imagination, courage, and truth.