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Princess Essex Tickets

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

The Globe welcomes an Edwardian beauty pageant in Anne Odeke’s new play about a trailblazing woman who shook up the competition.

Princess Essex Tickets Available Now

Step into the world of Edwardian seaside beauty pageants this summer and discover a woman who paved the way for generations. Anne Odeke’s new comedy play Princess Essex is a spirited, empowering tribute to Princess Dinubolu of Senegal, who broke boundaries and defied stereotypes to become the first woman of colour at a UK pageant. Get your tickets now and enjoy a hidden slice of history at the Globe Theatre.

What is Princess Essex about?

1908 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, and Princess Dinubolu of Senegal is entering a beauty contest at Kursaal, Europe’s biggest entertainment complex. Is the world ready to meet Princess Essex?

Fast-paced, funny and filled with music from composer Simon Slater, this uplifting new comedy is based on the true story of the first woman of colour to enter a beauty pageant in the UK. It bursts out onto the Globe stage in a flurry of costume, song and dance, so get ready to cheer for this display of unapologetic authenticity!

Following the success of other historical plays including Nell Gwynn and the Olivier Award-winning Emilia, this is the latest piece of new writing at the Globe that will inspire, entertain and make you wonder why you’d never heard of these amazing women before now.

Anne Odeke’s Audaciously Fun Debut

Writer and performer Anne Odeke, who appeared in The Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, makes her Globe playwriting debut with this vibrant and defiant historical comedy. She also stars as Princess Dinubolu, bringing her own words to life with a charm that will turn her into Miss Globe!

Robin Belfield (RSC: Twelfth Night) makes his debut at the Globe directing this incredible story of a woman who dared to be bold and beautiful without boundaries.

Don’t Miss Tickets for Princess Essex at the Globe

Bold, brave and beautiful: Princess Essex is a fantastic new play that brings history onto the stage with flair and fun. Book now to celebrate a forgotten story as it steps back into the spotlight and closes out the open-air venue’s summer season.

Sorry this show closed 26 October 2024, we recommend these similar productions.

Unicorn
Fawlty Towers
Performance dates:
25 Oct 2024 - 26 Oct 2024
Running time:
2 hours and 40 minutes including an interval.
Age recommendation:
No age recommendation has been set. See Audience Notes for content warnings.
Audience Notes:
This production features themes of racism, colonialism and misogyny, racist and ableist language, sexual assault, sexual references, strong language and stage violence.
Categories:

Princess Essex Reviews

4.5
14 Reviews
  • 5 Stars64%
  • 4 Stars21%
  • 3 Stars14%
  • 2 Stars0%
  • 1 Stars0%

User Reviews

Verified

I loved this - although I had no expectations that it would be quite so wittily written and skilfully performed, it's a cheeky, seaside-set, true story that takes a gently satirical sideswipe at Edwardian British values. I laughed throughout and was Read more

Performance date: 21 September 2024
Verified

Very funny show. Great acting.

Performance date: 26 October 2024
Verified

very entertaining

Performance date: 26 October 2024
1/5
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