Teenagers Tisana, Haleema, and Ruhab are best friends, busy swapping notes on celebrities, sex positions, and dodging carbs – but when they’re kidnapped by militant insurgents and forced towards an uncertain future, they have only each other to turn to. We sat down with the cast of Girls – Hannah Akhalu, Tara Tijani and Sewa Zamba.
HANNAH AKHALU
- What drew each of you to Girls and to the particular character you play, and how did you begin to understand her place within this friendship?
As soon as I knew the play centred three Black girls and was written by Theresa Ikoko, I was won over immediately. I love the way she portrays black girlhood and sisterhood in her stories and I think all 3 of the girls represent different ways in which girlhood is experienced. In Girls, despite being the baby of the group, Tisana brings the playfulness out of her friends and encourages them to think positively about their dire situation.
- The play puts Tisana, Haleema and Ruhab under extraordinary pressure; how did you approach showing the different ways each girl responds to and survives that pressure?
When researching the circumstances of the play, it was important for me to read and watch interviews from survivors of the Chibok kidnapping. Their experience is so unique, so survival to them looked and sounded different to anything I am familiar with. But also, they were still just teenage girls, so drawing on my own memories of my teenage years and those friendships has been helpful when approaching how Tisana deals with her situation.
- Female friendship is at the heart of Girls, but it is tested in incredibly difficult circumstances — what have you discovered about the strength and fragility of that bond through working on the play?
There is truly nothing stronger than the bond between women and girls, regardless of age. These girls are willing to both physically and metaphorically but their lives on the line for one another. There are so many things that girls and women experience in life that only they understand, which helps form the love they have for one another. But to be loved is to be seen, and being able to see the worst parts of people you love can put a huge strain on those relationships.
- How have the three of you built a sense of trust and intimacy between your characters, particularly when the story demands such emotionally challenging scenes?
Just by being there for each other. All of us – the cast, creatives, stage management etc. We all hold space for each other in the most wonderful way. With the cast however, we just constantly remind each other that we’re doing a great job. We check in with each other in and outside of the room. The weight of the show is carried equally between us, so mutual support in very important.
- Girls is set in Nigeria in 2014 but explores experiences of friendship, fear and resilience that feel much broader — what do you hope audiences take away from these three girls’ story?
My main wish is that the audience learn something new, whether it’s something new about Nigeria, religion, girlhood. But to also reflect on the fact that this did happen, these girls were taken. Girls are still being taken.
- As three emerging actors leading such an intense production, what has this experience taught you about yourselves and the kind of work you want to make and be part of in the future?
I’ve definitely learnt to trust myself more as an actor and not to place any limits on myself. I’ve grown so much from this process, and we’re still a month away from the end, but I know from now on that my craft will be better and will keep on getting better. I will always champion work that spotlights Black women and girls, and I hope I can keep on telling stories that are important and represent my heritage and communities.
SEWA ZAMBA
• What drew each of you to Girls and to the particular character you play, and how did you begin to understand her place within this friendship?
- I really wanted to be a part of the team that brought this incredibly important story to life and to a wider audience. Playing Ruhab is i think the first time i’ve gotten to play a “girly-girl”, so that’s been a new and fun experience but she’s also very adaptable and tougher (and smarter) than people think, so that’s been interesting to play around with. She’s somewhat the bridge between tisana and haleema’s views /approaches to life in general, as well as the situation they find themselves in In a way she absorbs the friction of the two.
• The play puts Tisana, Haleema and Ruhab under extraordinary pressure; how did you approach showing the different ways each girl responds to and survives that pressure?
- I kind of saw each girl as either ‘Fight Flight or Freeze’, regarding how they respond to pressure. In Ruhab’s case, her Freeze is sometimes out of fear and not knowing what to do, but for the most part, the ‘freeze’ actually just means accepting the situation for what it is and making the most of it. she really just wants them all to be together.
• Female friendship is at the heart of Girls, but it is tested in incredibly difficult circumstances — what have you discovered about the strength and fragility of that bond through working on the play?
- i believe that female friendships give you a sense of belonging and support. and when you’re a teenager i think that’s especially important because you’re quite literally just starting to try and figure out who, what and how to be in the world and that can be very difficult and incredibly isolating. your friends are people people you care for deeply, but because of all that internal pressure, it makes it very easy for friction to appear, so finding that balance can be tricky but necessary because at the end of the day, you do need your friends.
• How have the three of you built a sense of trust and intimacy between your characters, particularly when the story demands such emotionally challenging scenes?
- We are lucky enough to have been not just a cast but an entire team (stage management included) that just clicked instantly. Also, this story is pretty heavy, and we all really care about these characters and doing the story justice, so that empathy and care really bled into the personal relationships. we’ve laughed, cried and danced so much together, it’s been a truly amazing experience.
• Girls is set in Nigeria in 2014 but explores experiences of friendship, fear and resilience that feel much broader — what do you hope audiences take away from these three girls’ story?
- I hope it reminds people that there are stories about people out there that you might have never heard about or thought of and they deserve to be told too. because every story has something in it that is universal.
• As three emerging actors leading such an intense production, what has this experience taught you about yourselves and the kind of work you want to make and be part of in the future?
- For me, Girls has really solidified the importance of how powerful it is to tell stories that open up difficult conversations and encourage us to look beyond the surface of someone’s experience. I’m proud to tell stories that reflect parts of my identity and heritage, and I absolutely want to continue being part of work like this. This is only my second professional credit since graduating from drama school so i’m looking forward to embracing the challenge of being part of more stories across different genres, worlds and experiences. Very exciting !
TARA TIJANI
- What drew each of you to Girls and to the particular character you play, and how did you begin to understand her place within this friendship?
I think the thing that first drew me to GIRLS was the fact that it was inspired by the Chibok kidnappings in 2014. I remember hearing about it on the news but was so fascinated that someone had dramatised it. And then Haleema specifically; I just love how much she fiercely loves and wants to protect her friends. Sisterhood and friendship is important to her, and to see her fight in extraordinary circumstances has been amazing to play and embody.
- The play puts Tisana, Haleema and Ruhab under extraordinary pressure; how did you approach showing the different ways each girl responds to and survives that pressure?
Luckily Theresa handles that for us. The girls are written with so much life and uniqueness.
I think the thing we’ve been working on and discussing in the room is that there is no right or wrong way to try and survive, and the play brilliantly explores that.
Female friendship is at the heart of Girls, but it is tested in incredibly difficult circumstances — what have you discovered about the strength and fragility of that bond through working on the play?
We’ve really dicussed the different type of love you can have for your friends – sometimes it’s gentle, sometimes tough love is needed. And it ebbs and flows depending on the situation. But also someone’s role in the group too – Haleema can be seen as the tough one but there are beautiful moments where she is feeling vulnerable and scared, which the other girls immediately pick up on and support her.
- How have the three of you built a sense of trust and intimacy between your characters, particularly when the story demands such emotionally challenging scenes?
We’ve really ensured that the rehearsal room has been a safe space to work for everyone. Such heavy topics are being disused and witnessed in the show, so allowing space to breath and cry and laugh and shout has been really important and helped us build trust amongst the cast and crew.
- Girls is set in Nigeria in 2014 but explores experiences of friendship, fear and resilience that feel much broader — what do you hope audiences take away from these three girls’ story?
I hope the audience feels and remembers the important of friendship. So much importance can be placed on romantic love, but friendships are the ones that usually last longer and can truly save your life.
• As three emerging actors leading such an intense production, what has this experience taught you about yourselves and the kind of work you want to make and be part of in the future?
This experience has reminded me about how theatre can also be activism, and it has been an honour to dive into this world and share this story with people. And I hope I get to work on many more impactful and important stories.