Writer Sophia Leonie on MILLENNIUM GIRLS
This spring, MILLENNIUM GIRLS comes to Brixton House for its debut production. Written by playwright, journalist and screenwriter Sophia Leonie, it is based on real-life events amongst a group of young girls at the turn of the century. We were keen to know more, so we caught up with Sophia to fill us in.
Hi Sophia. Thanks so much for stopping to chat with us today. So, what is your new play about, and what are the main themes that it covers?
Thanks for having me! MILLENNIUM GIRLS is about friendship, girlhood and identity. It captures that exciting time when you feel invincible – like the world is yours – but because of this, you’re also extremely vulnerable. It is also about how that time in your life shapes the adult you become – for the good and bad.
What originally inspired you to write about these topics?
Firstly, I just wanted to tell the story of a working-class, mixed-race girl growing up in London, because growing up, I rarely saw myself represented on stage or screen. Jessica, the protagonist, is figuring out who she is. But as the play unfolds, it becomes clear that much of her identity has been shaped by other people’s labels and expectations – and in my experience, that is what it was like growing up as a mixed-race girl in the 90s.
As young women, many of the things Jessica, Latisha, and Chanel go through in the play are things many young women that I knew went through – or that women have since shared with me about their own teenage years. But back then, these experiences weren’t talked about. It’s very different from today’s generation, who are constantly dissecting and discussing their lives online.
I am also fascinated by how friendships shape who we become in later life – and this play is a sort of tribute to those friendships that may no longer even exist, but that deeply shape us.
Who’s your target audience? Is this for people of a specific generation, or perhaps for a London base?
This is for anyone who wants to remember the magical and sometimes terrifying experience of being in your late teens, figuring out who you are, and finding your freedom. And, yes – if you experienced this around the time of the New Millennium, you’ll absolutely love the nostalgia in the play. We are the generation that grew up before the internet took over; when club culture and pirate radio was king. MILLENNIUM GIRLS will especially resonate with those from big cities like London – and if you were into the UK Garage scene, well, you’re in for a treat.
You’ve got some absolutely top talent in the cast (yourself included!). Can you tell us a bit about them and what each brings to the production?
Unique (Spencer) has been with us from the R&D stage in 2022, and now feels like family! As soon as I saw her in the audition back then, I knew she was perfect for Latisha. She has this infectious energy – she’s so hilarious and bold – you can’t keep your eyes off her, but also very organised and dedicated to her craft. Tamara (Camacho) also wowed me in her audition – I just saw ‘Chanel’ instantly. In the room, she is the sweetest; an absolute joy to work with and is such a nuanced actor. She brings a thoughtful, sensitive approach and at the same time can also switch it up and bring the comedy. Nkhanise (Phiri) is also an exceptional theatre actress with a lovely, fun, youthful energy. All these actors bring a realness and vulnerability to girls that are so often written off as stereotypes.
Clearly, there’s a lot of nostalgia about this specific timeframe. How’s that going to be reflected in the design of the show?
Cara Evans (set designer) has a brilliant vision that brings the sparkle of the New Millennium alive. We’ll also be paying homage to not only UK Garage club culture, but also pirate radio and MC culture, through some of our set choices.
You’ve worked extensively in TV in the past, so why did you decide this story would work best on the stage?
I love the freedom of writing for the stage. This play jumps around in time and place, and uses various dramatic and stylistic devices which just really suited the stage. I also really wanted to see three strong young women command the stage – it felt integral to the piece.
There are going to be wraparound events after some performances. Can you tell us about them?
Yes, we are working with Raw Material on exciting DJ collaborations at Brixton House and we will be collaborating with Tender, running workshops for young people on healthy relationships. I want the legacy of the play to be about empowering the next generation of young people.
Thanks so much to Sophia for taking the time to talk to us about this fascinating show. Watch this space for the ET review coming up soon!
MILLENNIUM GIRLS runs at Brixton House from Monday 12 – Saturday 31 May.
