Discover the world of Edwardian seaside beauty pageants at the Globe this summer, as Princess Essex, a new play by Anne Odeke, bursts into our iconic open-air theatre.
It’s Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in 1908. Princess Dinubolu of Senegal enters a beauty contest at the iconic Kursaal, Europe’s biggest entertainment complex. Meet: Princess Essex.
A fast-paced, music-filled, empowering comedy based on the incredible true story of the first woman of colour to enter a beauty pageant in the UK. Writer and performer Anne Odeke (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Globe) makes her Globe playwriting debut, celebrating unapologetic authenticity, audacity, and challenging the stereotypes that we still cling to.
Robin Belfield (Twelfth Night, RSC) makes his debut at The Globe directing this inspiring story of bravery, beauty and belonging.
'Shall I tell you a secret? Anyone can be a Queen, but a real Queen doesn’t let the crown wear her, she wears the crown.’
__Access performances__
Audio described - Sat 28 Sep 2pm
Captioned - Thu 3 Oct 7.30pm & Sat 19 Oct 7.30pm
BSL - Fri 4 Oct 7.30pm & Fri 11 Oct 7.30pm
Relaxed - Sat 5 Oct 2pm & Thu 17 Oct 7.30pm
Odeke’s play text masterfully blends the cheeky, traditional humour of British seaside towns with a scathing critique of the deeply racist and misogynistic society that Joanna faces. The witty dialogue and comic scenes are peppered with nods and caricatures of classic music hall traditions, yet also contains the charm of the vintage Carry-On movies, resulting in a playful spirited, energy that keeps the audience highly engaged. Yet while the humour and light-hearted moments shine, Princess Essex also delves into more serious territory, addressing the systemic racism and inequality that Joanna must navigate. Despite the fun, there are sensitive themes around derogatory language and sexism, handled with utmost care and woven into the fabric of the story without overshadowing its joyful spirit.
Although in need of a bit of polishing, this is another fine example of why Shakespeare’s Globe needs to continue to pursue new writing projects; amidst another largely uninspiring summer programme, this title stood out from the get-go, and has proven itself to be another fresh hit. A delightful and educational piece of theatre that deserves to be seen by audiences everywhere.
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