Daughter of Sweden
★★★★☆ Accomplished
theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (Venue 53): Mon 17 – Sat 22 Aug 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson
Daughter of Sweden, from Stockholm’s Teater Kaleido, is an entertaining and informative slice of history, beautifully performed.
On the EdFringe website, the play’s full title is given as Daughter of Sweden – That One Princess Who Got Drunk with Lizzie I and Thrown Out of England. Which, considering its title in Sweden was Vasadottern, seems a curious mis-step. It makes it sound like a much more arch, much more straightforwardly ‘wacky’ affair than the considered, beautifully theatrical reality. Admittedly, it is funny (with more than the odd nod to Python) but it’s also nuanced.
Cecilia Sävermann in Daughter of Sweden. pic: Arantxa Hurtado,
Written and performed by Cecilia Sävermann (translated into English by Saskia Vogel), it’s an informative play that wears its considerable learning lightly. In a sympathetic and beautifully structured monologue, relevant to modern audiences without forcing the issue, the ghost of 16th century Swedish Princess Cecilia Vasa enters the space of a closed exhibition dedicated to her. This leads her to declare ‘I’ve been cancelled’, but luckily little of what follows is that obvious or forced.
The colourful life of the princess is elegantly detailed – being involved in a ‘sex scandal’, hanging out in England, becoming a privateer, suffering at the hands of male relations, being caught up in wars, suffering personal tragedy. Cecilia’s refusal to submit to the demands of being a demure Renaissance princess, and her resistance to double standards and patriarchy, makes her a much more suitable role model than any Disney heroine.
sympathetic direction
Sävermann, with the help of Judith Hollander’s wonderfully sympathetic direction and dramaturgy, turns in a remarkably adept performance. There is controlled physicality, understated comedy and clever evocation of different characters. It’s also proof once again of the apparent and infuriating way that Swedes seem to have a better command of English than native speakers do.
A confined acting area is well used, with clever utilisation of costumes and props, and the whole performance is wonderfully inviting and paced just right.
If there is a drawback to it, it comes from being in what is surely a much smaller space than the production was designed for. This means that the lighting and sound, while impressive in their own right, come across as just too assertive for the venue and draw attention to themselves more than would be ideal.
The script and performance, however, have more than enough to satisfy.
Running time: One hour (no interval).
theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (Theatre 1), Nicolson St, EH8 9DW. (Venue 53).
Monday 17 – Saturday 22 August 2026.
Daily: 10.10am.
Tickets and details: Book here at EdFringe.com.
Tickets direct from venue: Book here.
Teater Kaleido website: teaterkaleido.se
Facebook: @TeaterKaleido
Instagram: @teaterkaleido
ENDS
