Review: The Fit Prince (who gets switched on the square in the frosty castle the night before (insert public holiday here)) by Awkward Productions at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025

Name: The Fit Prince
Brand: Awkward Productions
Rating: 4 (1 reviews)

Lisa in the theatre
2 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 18 hours ago

Awkward Productions, the iconic team behind Fringe hits Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story and Gwyneth Goes Skiing, return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2025 with a rom-com parody of Hallmark holiday movies in The Fit Prince (who gets switched on the square in the frosty castle the night before (insert public holiday here.))

The Fit Prince is at the Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh until Monday 25th August and the transfers to The King's Head Theatre in London for the Christmas season. (Full listings below.)

Awkward Productions: The Fit Prince ★★★★☆

review: 14 August 2025 | Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Linus Karp and Joseph Martin of Awkward Productions are Edinburgh Festival Fringe favourites. Returning year after year with their unique blend of original new comedy plays, It's safe to say that the Edinburgh Fringe means alot to them too: the couple were recently married (for real!) onstage at the Scottish arts festival. (Read more about Awkward prods wedding here.)

For 2025 Awkward Productions bring their new work The Fit Prince (with the longest show title in Edinburgh Fringe history - probably*) to the Pleasance Courtyard for the festival ahead of a run in London at the end of this year. A rom-com spoof of those cheesy, cringey Netflix and Hallmark holiday movies where an unlikely couple meet in a ridiculous way, hate each other and then fall in love, The Fit Prince is everything we love to love about those comforting, trashy films.

In trademark Awkward Productions style, 'The Fit Prince' is a gloriously unhinged comedy play with music, bursting with fabulous puppets, iconic guest star appearances (via video) and a formidable amount of perilous audience participation. For the first time ever, Linus and Joseph - a real-life couple of 11 years - play romantic leads opposite one another on stage.

Welcome to Swedonia

In this camp, chaotic theatrical caper, The King of Swedonia has just died. The (fit) Prince (Linus Karp) who's in line to the throne is unmarried, and an odd Swedonian law means that he will have to forfeit the crown if he doesn't tie the knot before Midsomer. Unfortunately for him, Midsomer is only two weeks away.

Meanwhile in New York City, baker Aaron Butcher (Joseph Martin) is struggling following a breakup with his boyfriend and poor sales in his bakeshop. Supported by his cheerful puppet colleague Jenny Puppetson, he's stunned when he receives a mysterious royal commission from the faraway land of Swedonia. Aaron must travel to Swedonia to bake the wedding cake for the Prince himself. For some reason... So off we all fly to Swedonia; a completely fictional country (possibly inspired by Karp’s native Sweden...), and the perfect setting for the ultimate queer romcom.

Swedonia is like 'The Upside-Down' version of Sweden; everything is suspiciously familiar but just a little off. And that is where Karp and Martin's sharp observations and intelligent comedic writing shine. The touches of genius are too innumerable to list but span from the filmed opening titles - beamed to large TV screens in the room and so spot-on it hurts - through to an inspired full musical sequence featuring a concert from the Swedonian pop band BAAB.

Prepare to become a BAAB fan

Where Sweden have ABBA, Swedonia has BAAB, and I'm not sure who's more iconic. BAAB's music is written by global pop songwriter and RuPaul's Drag Race producer Leland. Their hits are inspirational takes on ABBA classics and worth the price of your ticket alone (Dunkirk, The Loser Takes Nothing, Movement King - sheer brilliance.)

It wouldn't be an Awkward Prods show without a deranged puppet or two and sure enough, in addition to Jenny Puppetson, The Fit Prince features Gerta McMurder, the disturbing-looking owner of the Swedonian orphanage played with an impeccable Scottish accent by Joseph Martin. This is a show that sees both Linus and Joseph play multiple impressive characters and show off their wide range of theatrical talents. The couple's natural chemistry can't be matched, and their gentle joshing of each other is priceless.

Though much of The Fit Prince is scripted, some of the funniest moments come from the ad-libs and improvisations that arise from having so many audience members play a part in the show. However amidst the mayhem, the brave and keen audience volunteers can sometimes take a while to find their cues and to hit their marks. While Linus is terrifyingly good at keeping the "extras" in their place, there can be moments of awkward silence and delays to the narrative which inevitably disrupt the pace of the otherwise breakneck comedy.

If you've never been to the Edinburgh Fringe before and you're wondering what Fringe theatre is all about, please go see this show. With a limited budget but unlimited talent, The Fit Prince and Awkward Productions are what true Fringe theatre is all about. Hilarious, heartfelt, unpredictable entertainment ★★★★☆

MORE: Find more reviews of Awkward Productions shows on Lisa in the Theatre here

MORE: Find more Edinburgh Fringe news and reviews on Lisa in the Theatre here

Awkward Productions The Fit Prince Cast:

For full cast details read The Fit Prince cast announcement here: https://www.lisainthetheatre.com/post/the-fit-prince-cast-news

Following the sold-out, award-winning shows ‘Gwyneth Goes Skiing’ and ‘Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story’, Awkward Productions are delighted to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe from 30th Jul - 25th Aug 25 and then to King’s Head Theatre, London from 2nd Dec 25 to 3rd Jan 26 with a brand-new show.