Schools Girls; Or the African Mean Girls play is currently showing at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith.
Based on true events when, in 2011 a mixed-race American woman won the Miss Universe Ghana beauty pageant, School Girls … is set in a Ghanaian boarding school for girls and follows Queen Bee Paulina and her crew who excitedly await the arrival of the Miss Ghana pageant recruiter. Paulina is expected to take the title until her place is threatened by Ericka – a beautiful and talented new transfer student from America. With the title of Miss Ghana not so clear the the friendship group’s status quo is potentially changed forever.
Penned by Ghanaian-American writer/performer Jocelyn Bioh the play which debuted in America in 2017 expertly explores friendship, colourism, politics and the politics of who gets to define beauty.
Featuring a talented cast of British actors for its UK premiere run at the Lyric, The British Blacklist spoke to the playwright, director and a few of the cast of the play …
JOYCELYN BIOH, PLAYWRIGHT TALKS … SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY
“I spent most of my life feeling insecure and inferior because of my complexion. I never saw any beauty in myself and always wished I would wake up and look like the women that I felt everyone else in the world valued and desired. It took me many, many years to own my beauty and I always felt that this play was the period at the end of that story for me. It took me all this time to be brave enough to write about the real and raw feelings I carried for most of my life. It means a lot to be able to share that story now and hopefully expedite the journey to self acceptance for an audience member who may still be struggling with those same feelings ...”
Read the full interview here.
MONIQUE TOUKO, DIRECTOR TALKS … SCHOOL GIRLS; OR THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY
“I think the idea of girls being in that space of coming of age, changing, evolving, puberty, and the idea of becoming a woman and what that means was something that was really intriguing and what I wanted to lean into. Also, this interesting relationship between Ghana and America which is expressed in the play and I feel like a lot of my plays do this where it’s African versus the West and how that interacts as well and how that kind of shapes you as a person to kind of navigate the world.“
Read the full interview here.
HEATHER AGYEPONG, ACTRESS TALKS … SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY
“For me, it’s about celebrating our beauty and understanding that we simply can not rely on the Eurocentric capitalistic so-called ‘standard of beauty’. The majority of people on this planet will never fit this beauty ideal so the hope is that this will fuel our insecurities and force us into a cycle of inadequacy which fuels our spending habits and reliance on things outside of ourselves. The play deconstructs this myth in a hilarious, poignant, and joyful way which really resonates long after you’ve left the theatre.“
Read full interview here.
JADESOLA ODUNJO, ACTRESS TALKS … SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY
“As I was reading I caught myself laughing out loud because of how hilarious it is and yet the story and dialogue were deeply nuanced. I loved how incredibly relatable the characters were. I was thinking there has to be a way I could be in this, so when it came my way I knew that this was what I’d been waiting for and I had to get involved.“
Read the full interview here.
FRANCESCA AMEWUDAH-RIVERS, ACTRESS TALKS … SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY
“I love working with black women, there’s an ease of communication and a common ground that is really energising and exciting. Because the play centres around a group of girls who are all so distinct and layered, we’ve been working closely together as a group with Monique [play director] to find that organic lively dynamic. I’m learning so much from everyone.”
Read the full interview here.
TARA TIJANI, ACTRESS TALKS … SCHOOL GIRLS; OR THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY
“This play is personal to me because I can totally relate to the feeling of wanting better for yourself and having a big goal; In my case, it was being an Actor. I remember being 15 and wanting it so bad but having teachers tell me to “choose something realistic”. (I left that school and went to the BRIT School). I also understand what it feels like to wish the colour of your skin was lighter. Colourism is a sad truth that most black women have experienced, and is something that at a young age I had to fight to get past and actively choose to love the skin I was born in. Now I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Read the full interview here.
DEBORAH ALLI, ACTRESS TALKS … SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY
Even though it is set in 1986 Ghana, Jocelyn’s writing transcends time and continents. I felt like I was reading a flashback in my own childhood. I had those thoughts, I fought those battles to finally be comfortable and proud of the skin I’m in. I know younger Deborah really needed to see this play: to know what I know now.
Read the full interview here.
ALISON A ADDO TALKS … SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY
That we are all beautiful whatever shade we are and the European/western standard should never ever be a thing. Love yourself and love others for who they are. The standard that is set out is not real life.
Read the full interview here.