In our profile series, Tell Us In 10, we ask cast members and creatives of top London shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions. From how their castmates would describe them and alternative careers, to their Theatreland idols, we want to know it all!
This week, we hear from Hannah Zoé Ankrah, who is currently in the cast of the NYT REP Company’s production of Much Ado About Nothing.
Find out more about Hannah and her career so far below:
1) My route into theatre was…
As a child I loved creating my own plays and forcing my parents to watch them! To save themselves they decided to put me into a performing arts school as soon as possible. I trained while in school and continued throughout my psychology degree. I joined National Youth Theatre in 2018, which exposed me to a fresh, playful and collaborative way of working that I had not experienced before. It was so exciting to be part of back then and it’s continued to open doors ever since.
2) My West End idol is…
Has to be Juliet Stevenson! She is incredible in how she commands a space, her vocal dexterity and how she brings characters to life. Absolute icon.
Juliet Stevenson (Ruth Wolff) in The Doctor (2022). Photo Credit Manuel Harlan.
3) My colleagues would describe me as…
I had to ask them to make sure I wasn’t off the mark. The word ‘infectious’ (in the best way possible) came up a lot! They described me as bright and bubbly and someone who always tries to radiate positive energy into the space!
4) My favourite show (that isn’t one I star in/work on) is…
Blues of Alabama Sky at the National is one of the best pieces of theatre that I’ve watched. The nuance and detail in the performances were so inspiring and everything about that show had me at the edge of my seat.
5) The career moment I’m most proud of is…
I’m most proud of a project I did with the PappyShow and Megaverse at the Sage Gateshead last summer. It combined physical theatre, dance and VR technology. It challenged me mentally and physically but also stretched me as a performer. It was so fulfilling to hear the feedback and see the end project. It was recently nominated for a Stage Award.
6) The hardest part about my job/role is…
I think it’s actually making sure that after rehearsals I remember to switch off my work theatre brain and find times of rest.
National Youth Theatre Rep Company Much Ado About Nothing (c) Helen Murray.
7) If I wasn’t an actor, I would be…
If I wasn’t an actor I would be a child psychotherapist because you get to help people for a living! I love psychology and working with children so that combines the two.
8) Something people don’t know about me is…
I’m actually completing my Child Development MSc at UCL at the moment. But it’s part-time, and very much on the side at the moment because I’m just a little bit busy!
9) The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
What’s for you won’t pass you by. So see any rejection as part of the journey towards your next opportunity.
10) The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
I would say be bold, be confident and be unapologetically you.
National Youth Theatre Rep Company Much Ado About Nothing (c) Helen Murray.
