‘Shall I tell you a secret? Anyone can be a queen, but a real queen wears the crown, she doesn’t let the crown wear her.’
It’s 1908. Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Princess Dinubolu of Senegal is about to enter the beauty contest at the iconic Kursaal, Europe’s largest entertainment complex. Meet Princess Essex.
But how exactly did she get here? And is she all that she seems?
Anne Odeke’s play Princess Essex is a riotous, satirical comedy based on the amazing true story of the first woman of colour to enter a beauty pageant in the UK. An inspiring account of bravery, beauty and belonging, it was first performed at Shakespeare’s Globe, London, in 2024, directed by Robin Belfield and starring the playwright as the Princess.
‘A blast of summer fun… a saucy and subversive tale of pride, prejudice and petticoat power that will have you laughing till your cockles rattle… would have the Bard chortling into his candyfloss… Highly recommended’
— The Times
‘A convincing tribute to the first black woman to enter a British beauty pageant’
— Telegraph
‘A touching, intriguing tale with plenty of playfully subversive humour… There is a real pleasure in watching [the lead character] easily overcome the bumbling, two-dimensional bigots who stand in her way… a powerful message’
— The Stage
‘A fiery recreation of the 1970s era, channelling a very modern and crowd-pleasing spirit into the story of the mysterious Princess Dinubolu’
— Reviews Hub
‘A true indication of the power of theatre to entertain and educate… takes the audience on a whirlwind journey… an effective balance of comedy and hard-hitting themes… a rare achievement’
— Theatre Weekly
‘Entertaining as well as thought-provoking… another fresh hit for The Globe. A delightful and educational piece of theatre that deserves to be seen by audiences everywhere’
— Broadway World
‘Lively and groundbreaking… masterfully blends the cheeky, traditional humour of British seaside towns with a scathing critique of the deeply racist and misogynistic society [of the time]. The witty dialogue and comic scenes are peppered with nods and caricatures of classic music hall traditions… a playful, spirited energy that keeps the audience highly engaged’
— Theatre & Tonic
