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Princess Essex

Closing: October 26, 2024

Princess Essex - West End History , Info & More

Shakespeare's Globe
21 New Globe Walk City of London, Greater London SE1 9DT London

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


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by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 23, 2024


See what the critics are saying about Princess Essex, directed by Robin Belfield, written by and starring Anne Odeke at Shakespeare's Globe. Read the reviews and learn more about the production.

Review: PRINCESS ESSEX, Shakespeare's Globe
by Debbie Gilpin - Sep 20, 2024


“Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside…” Anne Odeke’s play about the first woman of colour to enter a beauty pageant in the UK is a celebration of a bit of Essex’s history that has previously flown under the radar, as well as an interrogation of the effect of empire and patriarchy on the individual. That may sound heavy, but there is a deftness of touch that ensures the production is entertaining as well as thought-provoking.

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Cast Set For PRINCESS ESSEX at Shakespeare's Globe
by Stephi Wild - Aug 6, 2024


Shakespeare’s Globe has announced the cast of Princess Essex, directed by Robin Belfield (Twelfth Night, RSC), written by and starring Anne Odeke (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Globe).


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