What a treat it was to witness The Rapping Princess– a celebration of individuality and music, told with a huge dose of joy.
The Rapping Princess is adapted from the book by award-winning author Hannah Lee, with illustrations by Allen Fatimaharan. Real care has been taken to honour the book from the rhythmic verse to the joyful details from Fatimaharan’s illustrations which are echoed in the production, particularly in the gorgeously vibrant set and costumes designed by Laura McEwen, which even hold a few surprises along the way.
Adapted for the stage by Annabel Mutale Reed and Jack Trzcinski (who also composed the music), and directed by Reed, the piece is full of energy and musicality. At the centre of it all are two super performances: Anu Akinseye as ‘The Rapping Princess’ Shiloh and Grace Venus as the Queendom Storyteller, a role that brings much comedy, energy and tempo to the performance. Both bring warmth, playfulness and a great sense of connection with the audience.
Music is really the heart of this piece, along with the message that we all have our own ‘song’ to sing, in our own unique way. I loved that Teddy experienced such a wide range of musical styles and that he, along with the rest of the audience, got to take part in music-making with a loop station.
The involvement of children throughout the piece was meaningful and creative, building a real sense of excitement in the room. By the end of the show, many of the children were jumping around and dancing along to Shiloh’s finale. Surely there is no better reward in making a piece of children’s theatre than seeing the children it was made for up on their feet, dancing to the beat, fully immersed in the joy of the moment.
The Rapping Princess plays at Polka Theatre from 16 May to 21 June 2026. We received complimentary tickets to the Press Performance.
Photo Credit: Jake Bush