Inspired by a true story, Princess Caraboo comes to the stage of the Thessaly Theatre to transport audiences young and old into a world where dreams meet reality, and where the human need to believe in something greater is transformed into a force of life.

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Set in the English countryside in 1817, the play recounts the extraordinary adventure of a young woman who suddenly appeared in a field, dressed in strange clothes and speaking an incomprehensible language. The production blends historical, romantic, and comic elements, bringing to life a mystery that once shook the society of its time. It unfolds a story about identity and acceptance in a world hungry for fame, prestige, and influence — a timeless narrative that resonates with the questions of today. Princess Caraboo is a performance for the whole family.

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Synopsis

In 1817, on a rural road near Almondsbury in southwest England, Edward encounters a strangely dressed woman speaking an unknown, indecipherable language. He helps her and tries to lead her to the town, but soon both are arrested by soldiers on charges of vagrancy.

In court, Edward presents the young woman as Princess Caraboo, from a distant kingdom, shipwrecked on the shores of England. The stern Judge MacDonald sentences Edward to imprisonment, while the girl faces execution. At that moment, Lady Worrall, an aristocrat moved by Caraboo’s mysterious presence, intervenes and takes her under her protection.

At the Worralls’ manor, Caraboo gradually transforms into a “princess,” aided by fine clothes, portraits, and public fascination. Her myth culminates in a grand masquerade ball, where Caraboo becomes the sensation that captivates Bristol’s high society. Yet, a shadow begins to creep into the celebration — something that threatens the happiness of Princess Caraboo…

The production of Princess Caraboo balances imagination and realism, inviting children to discover the magic of invention in a world full of stereotypes and contradictions. It speaks about the power of self-belief and the ease with which societies create myths — but also about the courage it takes to forge one’s own path when none is offered.

For children, Caraboo becomes a luminous example of self-invention, creativity, and inner strength.

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Director’s Note

The first time I heard the story of Princess Caraboo was in 2017, during rehearsals for my first professional direction at the Thessaly Theatre. I remember walking into rehearsal that day and telling my collaborators that I had just read an incredible true story that could make wonderful theatre for children.

In the years that followed, that story continued to occupy my mind. At some point, the “planets aligned,” and I felt it was time to tell it — this time as a writer. Fifty years after the founding of the Thessaly Theatre, twenty years after my graduation from the National Theatre Drama School, and eight years after my first direction, I received the invitation to stage the Children’s Theatre production for Thessaly Theatre. That’s how this play was born.

This play was written for the Thessaly Theatre. It was written for little Alexandros-Nikolaos, who used to watch Thessaly’s children’s plays twice — once with his school and once again with his parents on Sunday. It was written for the child within us, who still looks at us with wide eyes, thirsting only for love.

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Production Credits

Written and Directed by: Alexandros Nikolaos Balamotis
Set and Costume Design: Giannis Katrantzas
Music Composition, Sound Design & Musical Supervision: Evripidis Bekos
Lighting Design: Makis Papatriantafyllou
Assistant Director: Christina Vraka

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Cast: Thanasis Zervas, Fotini Karakosta, Grigoria Oikonomaki, Dimitris Papavasileiou, Panagiotis Tolias, Aliki Tsakou

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Production Manager: Eirini Gotsi
Technical Director: Nikos Georgakis
Set Construction: Nikos Andrianopoulos, Panagiotis Karahalios, Anestis Symeonidis
Costume Construction: Nikoleta Kaisi
Lighting & Sound Operation: Giorgos Golantas, Nikos Foniadakis
Performance Coordination: Chrysa Zisopoulou, Iliana Krommyda, Antonis Gravannis