Anne Odeke’s play, Princess Essex, bursts with energy on the iconic Shakespeare’s Globe stage. Anne Odeke herself stars in her play, portraying the larger than life trailblazer, Princess Dinubolu, the first woman from the global majority to enter a UK beauty pageant.
The play is based on a true story in Edwardian Britain and highlights a lesser known Black British figure in history. This was a period that witnessed a fierce fight for women suffragettes and the rise of pan-Africanism. On the 19 August 1908 Princess Dinubolu entered a British beauty competition at Southend’s iconic landmark, The Kursaal.
Directed by Robin Belfield, the production makes brilliant use of an array of styles, from musical theatre to poetry, pantomime to physical theatre, which kept the audience engaged and intrigued throughout. There was a lot of chuckling and audible empathy in the yard (standing area directly in front of the stage) which was mostly filled with young people and groups of students.
This added to the Globe’s glowing ambience which I always find heart-warming. One of my favourite moments was the comical number Dirty Flirty Berty; King Edward boasting of his lewd antics with his female subjects. Another highly amusing moment was the duologue between Joanna, a maid to a lonely mistress who has been neglected by her husband, and Mr Batwa a Congolese pygmy who entertains guests at the Kursaal. Both expressed pity for one another; believing that the other is living a lesser life because of their opposing status in British society.
Very little remains known about the real Princess Dinubolu and I was expecting to learn more about this figure. The play is an embellishment of the little information we have about her. In this storyline, Princess Dinubolu has been made up by Essex-born Joanna after a disagreement with her mistress. She goes to the rival seaside town Folkestone to seek a better opportunity but was rejected because of the colour of her skin. It’s then that she disguises herself as a Senegalese princess, made up the African sounding name, Dinubolu, and forges a letter to King Edward to enter the beauty pageant.
The premise is very Globe-esque (the Globe is renowned for disguises and mistaken identities) and has plenty of scope for entertainment which Odeke has mastered as well as demonstrating authenticity in her writing. We’re starting to understand that there has been a prominent Black presence in Britain throughout British history as far back as the Roman era. Many people often imagine that Black people were perpetually oppressed, striving and lacking joy.
We’re impressed and inspired by their struggles and strife but fail to view them as real people with personalities who got on with their day-to-day lives. Odeke debunks this misconception and humanises Princess Dinubolu by portraying her as a lively, witty, and gutsy go-getter in the midst of racial injustice and aggression.
The play tackles inequalities in race and violations towards women without dominating the storyline. Admittedly, I went in expecting to be triggered but found myself in an exhilarating environment that immediately wins you over. Odeke oozes charm throughout while the other characters (who were equally larger-than-life) are well acted by a talented and very giving cast, most of them playing multiple roles. It’s remarkable how they sustained the fast pace and energy the production relies on for the comedy to take off (and land). The actors also managed the audience interactions well. I was impressed with the several quick changes of costumes, and the costumes themselves were astonishing.
Making her Globe playwriting debut, she is also the first woman of colour to write and star in her own play at The Globe since William Shakespeare! Odeke has pushed past stereotypes associated with staging stories around historical Black figures. Rather than causing the audience to feel provoked and bereft, we’re treated to lighthearted entertainment packed with music, humour and an uplifting message that resonates with everyone.
Need to know: Princess Essex plays at Shakespeare’s Globe until 26 Oct 2024 #PrincessEssexGlobe
