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★★★★
Grownup Playhouse’s new musical ‘To Be a Prince’ is back at the Edinburgh Fringe for its second year, finding a home at Greenside Venues for 2025. Taking the traditional fairy tale tropes and putting a Prince at the centre, this one-person musical is told entirely from the perspective of a forgotten love interest, who craves attention and is desperate to change their own story. Using comedy and musical theatre as a tool to question our perceptions of underexplored fairy tale characters, the theatre company has created a musical that stands out as a truly original piece of theatre that will appeal to all ages.
One for the fairy tale fans
This show is ideal for fans of Disney films and fairy tales, and in my opinion, the more you know about the stories, characters and soundtracks, the more you will appreciate the writing. I noticed so many creative references to recent and classic Disney films, from hints of melodies to the odd memorable phrase. This combined with performer Tom Rolph’s incredible voice, that supports the range required for heroes, side kicks and villains, is just what you are looking for in a fantasy-themed musical.
The strengths lie in Tom’s musical performances and confidence engaging the audience. There are lots of moments where the actor humorously breaks the fourth wall and I found myself excessively laughing at the self-centred persona that he has created. Part of the story involves the Prince interacting with another character (pre-recorded voiceover) on multiple occasions. It is a complex task to try and introduce a second character into a one-person show and whilst it worked on the whole, I did feel that it disrupted the performer’s flow in places. Personally I much preferred the sections where Tom was not restricted by a recorded segment and could naturally respond to the atmosphere in the room.
Captivating lighting design
For such a simply staged show, the lighting is very atmospheric. Pickle Studio at Greenside is a small performance space and any performers are fully exposed to the audience on a raised platform. For this show, the bold lighting changes completely transform the space and support the Prince on their journey of conscience and self-reflection. As an audience member, you almost forget you are in such a small space, with the varying hues washing the stage in vibrant colours.
Fairy tale fun at the Fringe
Complete with catchy anthems, this show is the ultimate feel-good hour of fairytale-themed comedy. ‘To Be a Prince’ would be a fun addition to any Fringe schedule. You can catch the show at Pickle Studio until 23rd August (not 10th or 17th). Performances start daily at 15:00, with tickets available via the festival’s website.
*My ticket for ‘To Be a Prince’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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