Issue #133 “Fun Is How You Get People To Listen” – Service95 Goes Backstage With Actor & Playwright Tife Kusoro

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Tife Kusoro on stage at London's Roundhouse

Tife Kusoro © Tanya Ludriecus

Video, Backstage With, Culture

“Fun Is How You Get People To Listen” – Service95 Goes Backstage With Actor & Playwright Tife Kusoro

September 5, 2024 | By Pia Brynteson

In our series Backstage With, Service95 takes you behind the scenes, offering a glimpse into the world of both emerging and established artists, delving into their creative processes and discovering what fuels their passion. Here, we meet playwright and actor Tife Kusoro, who takes us backstage at rehearsals – discover more in our video interview below…

Tife Kusoro, the British-Nigerian playwright and actor, exudes a quiet calmness, belying the power her work carries. The first show of hers I encountered was The Last Black Girl On Earth, a solo piece she both wrote and performed at The Last Word Festival at London’s Roundhouse, where she was also a resident artist at the time. We were scheduled to film an interview with Kusoro on the day of her performance, between her tech and dress rehearsal. Naturally, the tech ran over, so instead, we went straight into the dress rehearsal – where I had the privilege of watching Kusoro in her element. While she’s softly spoken offstage, onstage she is commanding, every word delivered with conviction and confidence.

The Last Black Girl On Earth is a bold and imaginative show that dives into Black girlhood, superstardom and a mysterious mass disappearance. In this one-woman performance, Tife Kusoro plays the last Black girl alive, navigating a world where suddenly, her life matters in ways it never did before. The show is packed with humour, but as she says, it’s a “surreal, dark comedy” where every laugh hides a deeper truth. For Kusoro, “fun is how you get people to listen,” and she uses that to deliver a message that lingers long after the curtain falls.

“I always write stories that centre Black characters, particularly Black female characters,” she says. “It’s important to me to give space to my own stories and those of my community.” Kusoro’s passion shines through in everything she creates. The script is sharp, the soundtrack hits hard, and her performance is utterly captivating – holding the audience in the palm of her hand from start to finish.

I caught up with her again at Sloane Square’s Royal Court Theatre, where she was deep into rehearsals for the newest play she’s written, G (running until 21 September), directed by Monique Touko. This new piece follows the journey of three Black boys – Khaleem, Joy and Kai – as they encounter the mysterious ‘Baitface the Gullyman’ who, according to myth, appears when you walk beneath a pair of trainers hanging from a telephone wire. “It feels like a psychological thriller at times, sometimes it feels like a horror, sometimes like a drama, sometimes a comedy. It’s always shifting. That nature of it was exciting and something I haven’t done before,” says director Touko. Kusoro weaves this surreal legend into a powerful narrative that also captures the realities of modern youth, blending the supernatural with the struggles and stories of today’s generation.

I was lucky enough to sit in on a 10-minute preview, watching a vibrant cast of four young actors bring Kusoro’s words to life. From the sidelines, Kusoro watched with a small grin, equal parts proud and amazed as her vision took shape. It’s clear that while she’s still getting used to seeing her work on such a big stage, she knows she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.

Kusoro’s journey to G started with the Royal Court’s Introduction To Playwriting programme, which led to her being commissioned for the play. And working with Touko seemed to be a creative match made in heaven. “It’s been a pleasure to work with [Tife],” Touko says. “She’s definitely speaking for young people… She’s special.”

Having young playwrights such as Kusoro in the spotlight is a game-changer for today’s theatre landscape. “People need to feel heard. It’s important that these industries are open to people, open to everybody,” says Touko.

Opening doors for new talent such as Kusoro brings a new energy to theatre, helping to keep it relevant for younger generations who may not see themselves represented in traditional productions. She brings fresh, bold stories to the stage; stories that reflect the world we live in today.