Princess Essex
Southend-on-Sea, Essex. 1908. Tired of her life, Joanna decides to take matters into her own hands and enter herself into one of the country’s most prestigious beauty pageants, disguised as a Senegalese Princess.
Based on the little-known, true story of Princess Dinubolu, Princess Essex is the funny and dynamic tale of the first black woman to ever enter a beauty pageant in the UK.
Princess Essex is written and performed by Anne Odeke (RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch). Other Creatives include: Director –Robin Belfield, Assistant Director –Michelle Payne, Lighting Designer –Ben Garcia, Sound Designer – Hattie North, Technical Stage Manager – Jade Ayres, Dramaturg – Mia Jerome. The piece has been created with public funding from Arts Council England. The show is in partnership with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, The Mercury Theatre Colchester and the South Essex African Caribbean Association (SEACA). Princess Essex has also been made possible thanks to the support of Creative Estuary Co-commissions.
Age Guidance 12+
Warning: The play uses authentic language of the time, which some people may find offensive.
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