Awkward Productions is spreading Christmas cheer this holiday season with its latest offering, The fit prince (who gets lit in the frosty castle square the night before (insert holiday here))now playing at London’s King’s Head Theatre.
Spoof all your favorite movies on Netflix and Hallmark Christmas, The Fit Prince… combines queer joy with total chaos as we are transported to the land of Sweden. The story begins with the king’s tragic death, making Prince Elian (played by Linus Karp) next in line to the throne. But to become king, not only does Prince Elian have to marry, but he has to do it before Christmas, which is only a few weeks away. The prince isn’t vibing with any of his potential suitors via video, so the race is on to find the one before the big party day.
On the other side of the world, New York baker Aaron Butcher (played by Joseph Martin) receives an invitation to bake Prince Elian’s wedding cake (thanks to a lot of interference from colleague Jenny Puppetson). Feeling drained after being dumped by his ex (and wanting to make him jealous), Aaron seizes the opportunity and heads to Sweden to meet the prince.
This leads to Prince Elian and Aaron enjoying a stereotypical meet-cute before naturally disliking each other. But the NYC baker later encourages the prince to explore beyond the castle grounds, setting the stage for a very rooted romance. What follows is a frenzied Swedish saga involving doppelgangers, a strangely familiar BAAB concert featuring hits like “Dunkirk” and “Movement King,” and a startling turn from Gerta McMurder, the orphanage director.
The Fit Prince… is an upset rom-com that ticks all the boxes. From the second you step into the theater, you know you’re in for an incredible experience. Never having seen an Awkward Productions show before, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was in tears of laughter from the start. Linus and Joseph have created such an inclusive space, and it’s clear to see why they have such a strong following. The show is a love letter to Linus’ native Sweden but is also a hilarious caricature of the heteronormative modern Christmas rom-coms we all know and love (even Vanessa Hudgens is a fan…if you know, you know).
Linus and Joseph slay their performance throughout the evening, and in addition to playing Prince Elian and Aaron respectively, they also take on other roles throughout the evening, including puppeteers Jenny and Gerta. Their chemistry is second to none (which is unsurprising given that the couple are actually married in real life), but they also had a brilliant rapport with the audience. There were some technical difficulties on the night, but they handled them exquisitely, laughing off any problems and entertaining the crowd with off the cuff comments.
Although Linus and Joseph are the stars of the show, there are also video contributions from a host of familiar faces including Tove Lo as the Prime Minister of Sweden, drag queen Kate Butch as Angela Merkel, Yshee Black as Michelle Obama, Geri Allen as the Queen of England, and Heart stopper actor Sebastian Croft as Prince Balthazar of Bashington. Each character was wonderfully woven into the story – Tove Lo herself referring to her discography was a particular highlight.
The show is also enhanced by plenty of audience participation, with the lucky audience members selected from the crowd before the show begins. With plenty of roles to offer, including a priest, orphanage children and Elian’s horses, the show is truly buoyed by audience contributions. At press night, the select crowd gave it their all and made us laugh in all the right places. We were also treated to a very special guest appearance, with Sebastian Croft taking on the role of Elian’s double for one night only. This was made even funnier by the fact that he had to romance his own digital character, Prince Balthazar of Bashington.
The beauty of The Fit Prince… is its versatility. The incredibly long title includes “(holiday inset here)”, meaning that Linus and Joseph have been able to update the show from their Edinburgh Fringe run this summer to create this festive offering. They also keep it up to date with current pop culture references, including a fun nod to the viral Madame Morrible x Wicked Witch TikTok trend. Because of the audience participation element, every show will look a little different and you just don’t know how people will react and act out their roles.
There is also music laced throughout the show, created by songwriter Leland. Whether it’s Sweden’s national anthem (with ever-changing lyrics to match the plot), the brilliant BAAB songs parodying ABBA’s greatest hits, or Gerta McMurder’s powerful ballad, each song is sensational in its own way and adds a lot of depth and humor to the plot.
When Christmas Deals Go, The Fit Prince… is a must see and is a great alternative to your traditional pantomime. The spectacular 70-minute package packs a punch in all the right ways and will no doubt leave you warm and fuzzy inside. Ditch the Netflix deals and get yourself to the King’s Head Theater today!
The fit prince (who gets lit in the frosty castle square the night before (insert holiday here)) playing at the King’s Head Theatre, London between 2 December 2025 – 3 January 2026. Tickets are available now.
Let us know your thoughts on ThePlayerLounge socials now!
| X| |
Disclaimer: Gift tickets in exchange for an honest review
