Princess Essex

Tired of life, black Essex girl 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.  A true story, that not only asks us to question the misconception of the Essex girl, but  invites audience members to consider who are the gate keepers of history, and why  have so many incredible black stories been hidden.  

Princess Essex is written and performed by Anne Odeke.  

As a writer, Anne has recently represented Essex in Radio 4’s latest series United  Kingdoms. She has also been commissioned by Storyhouse theatre in Chester, to write an  adaptation of Little Women set in WW1 which shall play this coming summer at  Grosvenor Park.  

As a performer, Anne has recently worked with the RSC, as well as Shakespeare’s Globe,  the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Birmingham Rep & the Royal Lyceum.  

The team behind the project include: Director – Robin Belfield (RSC), Assistant Director –  Michelle Payne (Squad Goals), Technical Stage Manager – Jade Ayres (Peter Pan),  Lighting Designer – Ben Garcia (Museum of the Homeless), Sound Designer – Hattie North  (Shuga Fixx vs the Illuminati), Designer – Gemma Compton (All my Sons, QTH).  

The play has been created with public funding from Arts Council England. The show is  also 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.