We sat down with Shanika Warren-Markland behind Barbie Comes to Tea, performing at the Soho Theatre, 10th February.
1. In “Barbie Come To Tea”, the show hints at a family party getting “messy”. Can you share an example?
I think family parties all have the potential to get messy, I know mine do! I think with family who we love and are close to, even if sometimes we can’t stand them, we don’t have to sugarcoat our responses. In the show, when Willow ignores that Jordan wants to play with Barbie, some of the family don’t take her seriously, and some of the characters straight up call her out or override her.
2. There’s a character who thinks that Jordan’s behaviour is just a phase, another sees homophobia, and another wonders why nobody has asked Jordan directly. How does the show delve into these perspectives on Jordan’s choice?
I really wanted to look at how we still in 2024 place so many gendered stereotypes on kids and then wonder how we end up with, for example, people like Andrew Tate becoming popular. I also wanted to touch on how we often think that this is a problem of the older generation and that maybe we’ve moved on, but actually we do still perpetuate this in small ways. I particularly wanted to look at it from a working class Black British perspective. But all of the characters are flawed and they all think that they have the right attitude so what happens then? I wanted to treat even the characters I disagree with personally, with empathy and explore why they feel the way they feel.
3. “Barbie Comes To Tea” explores family dynamics, class, race, sexuality, and masculinity. How are these themes interwoven into the storyline?
Some of these themes come up more explicitly than others but that’s life isn’t it? No matter what we are doing we are impacted by our identities at different points. I’m a writer who thinks quite a lot about identity in my day-to-day life and conversations, not everyone around me in my family or circles does, not everyone has the privilege of analysing this when they’re trying to survive. But they may still feel a way about something someone has said or done that relates to those themes. I’m coming at it from a working class Black British perspective and looking at how people, in super subtle ways like in private thoughts and intimate conversations with family, deal with these themes.
4. How does the play balance the serious themes with the comedic aspect suggested by the messy family party?
I think there’s always humour, even in dark situations or times, sometimes without people realising the things they say are funny or as a way of dealing with certain situations. I also wanted there to be a sense of lightness to counteract some of the heavier topics. Also my family are hilarious! And I wanted to bring some of that joy and love that we have for each other to the characters. Sometimes they say things that maybe are a bit questionable but funny and sometimes using humour to gently probe someone’s thinking works. Families are messy and funny and a whole bunch of other things! I wanted to bring all of the messy complexity of family to the piece and I hope I succeeded!
Get your tickets here: https://sohotheatre.com/events/barbie-comes-to-tea/