The Wardrobe Ensemble and Wayward Productions present Princess Smartypants which is written by Babette Cole and adapted by The Wardrobe Ensemble. Currently on tour, it runs at Lyric Hammersmith from 28 May to 01 June 2024.
Full of songs and madcap comedy, Princess Smartypants is a subversive, fun-filled adventure for children and their families.
Princess Smartypants does not want to get married. She wants to carry on making music with her menagerie of monstrous pets, but the King and Queen have other ideas….
Find out how Princess Smartypants fights to preserve her independence in this hilarious fairy-tale-with-a-difference.
Princess Smartypants is perfect for anyone who is fed up with traditional fairy tales and wants to see what happens when girls are in charge of the castle.
Eva Redman spoke to The Artiscape about her role in the play.
What attracted you to the Princess Smartypants script?
Redman: I remembered the book from when I was a child, and I’m all for stories that show kids (and adults) that there are many ways to choose to live your life. Princess Smartypants wholeheartedly enjoys her own company and stands up to the pressures placed on her around romantic relationships. She’s such a legend.
Can you tell us about the character you play?
Redman: I play the role of the dragon, Amazonia, who is Princess Smartypants’ best friend and the drummer in her band – she’s a rockin’ fire breather! She’s there through the whole show playing the music, being cool, and generally having Smartypants’ back… and she’s got a little trick up her scaly sleeves.
How do you prepare for a role such as this?
Redman: The night before rehearsals started, I actually watched the dragon scene from Shrek, which helped me a little with my roar.
What are you most looking forward to about performing in Princess Smartypants?
Redman: Seeing it all come together with the set, costume, lights – everything. At the start of each show, I get excited to see the audience and the responses from the kids! I also love watching the rest of the cast goofing around in front of me. It’s a silly and uplifting show and it’s been awesome to spend time working with everyone. There’s also some great music I get to play.
What do you think an audience will enjoy the most when they come to see Princess Smartypants?
Redman: I think the Wardrobe Ensemble and the Smartypants team have managed to make something that is genuinely funny for the parents as well and that applies to grandparents too. The kids will love seeing Princess Smartypants doing her thing, and they’ll love the Queen and all the princes. And also, there’s this one bit in the show that they really will enjoy the most… but I can’t say what it is!
Eva Redman also covers drums for Six on the West End and has upcoming performances in Brook Tate’s Birthmarked at the Lowry, Manchester and Stratford East Theatre, London this summer.
