Sophia Leonie‘s MILLENNIUM GIRLS is a love letter to growing up in the 90s — perfectly messy and shaped by UK garage. The standout show is on now at Brixton House until the May 31 with a 70-minute run time. Directed by Jade Lewis and performed by Tamara Camacho (Chanel), Sophia Leonie (Jessica), Nkhanise Phiri (Jasmine), and Unique Spencer (Latisha), the show follows three best friends as they navigate the space between girlhood and womanhood. It’s about friendship, heartbreak, and identity — and how others shape who we are.
The story unfolds through a series of snapshots from Jessica’s teenage years with Latisha and Chanel, capturing everything from their first intimate experiences, social pressures at school, and the gut-punch of growing apart. The story weaves between scenes of Jessica in adulthood, healing the strained relationship with her daughter, Jasmine, as Jessica’s story is revealed. There’s no heavy-handed message — MILLENNIUM GIRLS is like flicking through a scrapbook of memories, full of warmth and compassion.
Visually, the production keeps things simple — just four performers, a few props, and a clever use of lighting and sound. It doesn’t need anything more. The performances are natural and generous, with the actors switching between characters and time periods effortlessly.
What makes MILLENNIUM GIRLS stand out is its comedy. It’s not forced or gag-heavy, but hilarious in an “oh my god, I did that too” kind of way. The girls hype up to garage music, giggle over boy talk, and hunt for the next rave. The largely millennial audience was in stitches. Spencer stood out for her timing and physical comedy, but all the performances were hilarious and endearing. MILLENNIUM GIRLS’ humour comes from recognition, not exaggeration, and strikes the perfect note.
But the play doesn’t just coast on nostalgia — it uses those details to ask bigger questions about growing up with colourism and misogyny, without yet having the words for it. Jessica’s experience in the 90s is then contrasted with her daughter’s. Despite growing up in the digital age, with constant access to information, Jasmine faces these very same issues.
Sophia Leonie explains: “There were many experiences that my peers and I faced that were never discussed or articulated, let alone represented on stage or screen. Even as politics and activism were frequent topics of conversation at home and with friends, important issues like consent, gender stereotypes or colourism were just not discussed and therefore challenged – anywhere. As a result, we are a generation that entered adulthood and parenthood in this digital age, where so much has changed – and so much has not – forcing us to confront our own trauma. MILLENNIUM GIRLS digs into all of this while conveying the sheer joy of being young and having the world at your feet.”
The play handles change candidly and softly, particularly the slow-burning grief of losing a friendship. A huge bust-up doesn’t cause the end of the three girls’ friendships; they simply drift apart. Although sad, the representation of a gentle ending of friendships was refreshing. Despite being a normal part of life, it remains taboo to talk about. The writing doesn’t rush to resolve the girls’ reality, focusing instead on tenderness as the closeness fades.
MILLENNIUM GIRLS is a warm, funny, and honest piece of theatre that celebrates the people who made us, even if they didn’t stay forever. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, and a must-see for any ’90s girls. Beyond nostalgia, it offers a perspective on change within ourselves and society that is worth reflecting on. I’d highly recommend it for a heart-warming evening.
NEED TO KNOW: MILLENNIUM GIRLS plays at Brixton House until 31 May 2025
Age guidance: 14+ | Content guidance: Some explicit language, themes of colourism, sexism and misogyny, some racially charged language and descriptions of sexual assault.
