'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.