A whirlwind of the campiest silliness and the most cathartic celebration of queer joy
If you enjoy cheesy rom-coms, cameos by queer icons, and Europop bangers, this show is the one for you!
‘The Fit Prince (who gets switched on the square in the frosty castle the night before (insert public holiday here))’, written and performed by Linus Karp & Joseph Martin and produced by Awkward Productions & King’s Head Theatre Productions, will be at the King’s Head Theatre until January 3rd, 2026.
With a plot reminiscent of those formulaic Hallmark Christmas movies – humble baker meets fit Prince – it explores clichés of the genre whilst subverting our expectations through incredibly witty humour and pure and unapologetic queer chaos. It’s also worth mentioning how refreshing it is to see the heteronormative nature of rom-coms being challenged by the company, who present Swedonia, the fictional kingdom where the action takes place, as a queer utopia where being gay is not part of the show’s conflict.
In this show, we follow the adventures of Aaron Butcher, a somewhat frustrated New York baker fighting to keep his family business afloat, played by Joseph Martin, who sets off to Swedonia with a commission to bake the cake for the upcoming royal wedding of Prince Elian, played by Linus Karp, who has to marry before Christmas to be able to inherit the crown to his kingdom after his father’s passing. Both performances are outstanding, swinging from deeply heartfelt moments to quick-witted ad-libs and masterful audience interaction. Praise is also due to the company’s ASM, Ciara Pidgeon, for a series of stellar appearances in supporting roles throughout the show. It was a delight to see this love story unfold within a whirlwind of the campiest silliness and the most cathartic celebration of queer joy.
The pace of this show never drops. There’s always more surprises looming at every corner, from celebrity digital cameos to top-tier audience participation (one must come to Awkward Productions shows knowing about the possibility of having to put on a horse head mask and be ready to jump on stage when prompted) and full-blown musical numbers masterfully choreographed by Sam Carlyle that had audiences drowning in hilarity.
James Appleby’s lighting design and the work of designers Stella Backman, Wez Maddocks, and Zack Pinset was pure eye candy. The sound design, by Kate Marlais, and soundtrack, original music by Golden Globe-nominated writer and producer Leland, elevate the piece and its comedy by including some great reinterpretations of pop classics that had the whole audience dancing and singing in unison. If you enjoy ABBA, you’re in for a treat!
After seeing this show, one can understand the cult following Awkward Productions has amassed over a relatively short time span, all their shows becoming a must-see at the Edinburgh Fringe after garnering a myriad of five-star reviews and multiple awards and accolades.
If you want to escape the stress and turmoil that plagues our current times and want to dive head-first into the holiday bliss, start by booking a ticket to the campiest fringe comedy in town at the King’s Head Theatre for an early Christmas treat. ‘The Fit Prince […]’ might well be the crown jewel of Awkward Productions.