The Princess and the Pea

About the Show

Tumble, toss and turn the page in this nimble twist on Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless tale. Disheveled from a rainstorm and forced to prove herself to her faithful servants, a pampered princess learns a lesson in humility—with the help of one pesky pea! A marvel of mattress-springing acrobatics and physical comedy, The Princess and the Pea leaps to life with queen-sized charm and nary a word.

Things to Know

1. Told through an accessible combination of acrobatics and slapstick, this physical theater piece contains only two words—”princess” and “pea!”
2. Rather than needing to prove herself worthy of marriage, this reimagining of The Princess and the Pea is a simple case of mistaken identity.
3. While this is Upswing’s first time on the New Victory stage, Unicorn Theatre was most recently here with I Wish in 2024, and Staffordshire’s New Vic Theatre journeyed here with Around the World in 80 Days in 2019.

About the Artists

A multi-award-winning circus company, Upswing uses the human body as an expressive tool to push the boundaries of what circus arts can be. They celebrate diverse artists and empower them to tell stories about the human experience that spark curiosity in their audiences.

The leading children’s producing theater in the UK, Unicorn Theatre welcomes over 60,000 family and school audience members every year to its venue in central London, delivering on its mission to transform young lives through theater.

Staffordshire’s New Vic Theatre (no relation!) makes distinctive theater in-the-round and acts as a force for positive change in their corner of England. With several international tours under their belts, their influence extends beyond Britain and throughout the world.