What started as a niche off-Broadway performance has exploded into a major cultural debate.
A new stage production in New York is raising serious eyebrows—and sparking global backlash—for its highly provocative portrayal of a very real member of the British royal family.
A Fictional Future With Real-World Repercussions
The play in question is Prince F**t, written by Canadian playwright Jordan Tannahill.
It imagines a speculative future where Prince George, currently 11 years old, is a 19-year-old gay man experimenting with drugs, kink, and BDSM.
The character is shown in a romantic relationship with an Oxford-educated Indian man named Dev.
Set in 2032, the play is meant to be a tragicomedy, but many critics and audience members have taken issue with its use of George’s real name and identity—especially considering he’s still a child in real life.
Bold, Graphic, and Unapologetically Explicit
The play doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to shock value.
Performances include full nudity, simulated sex acts, and one particularly graphic bondage scene where George’s character is tied up, blindfolded, and “walked like a puppy.”
Phones are locked away during the 90-minute performance, emphasizing the production’s intent to keep things private inside the theater.
However, word has certainly gotten out.
Fans Applaud, Critics Cringe
Not everyone is outraged. The production has received glowing reviews from some theatre critics and LGBTQ+ audience members, many of whom say the show’s boldness is precisely what makes it important.
The New York Times called it “thrilling,” while The Wrap described it as “meta-theater at its best and most thought-provoking.”
Even Madonna showed up to a performance and snapped a picture with the cast.
Actress Rachel Crowl, who plays Princess Catherine (Kate Middleton), posted it on Instagram with visible excitement.
Online Reactions: ‘Wonderful’ or ‘Disturbing’?
Despite the critical praise, Reddit threads discussing the play have been more conflicted.
Some users called the show “brilliant,” especially during Pride Month, and appreciated the vulnerability and courage of the all-queer cast.
Others, however, expressed disgust and concern.
One audience member said they felt “dirty” for watching the show.
Another asked, “Is it right to write fan fiction about a real child?” Several users questioned why the playwright didn’t simply change the characters’ names to make it more fictionalized.
A Chilling Debate on Art, Ethics, and Children
The most heated criticism centers around the fact that Prince George is still a child and didn’t consent to being portrayed this way.
“Anything about the sexuality of someone who is a real child is way, way, way out of bounds to me,” one commenter wrote.
Another put it bluntly: “Why are we allowing gay kink fantasy plays about an eleven-year-old boy to exist?”
That sentiment is echoed by many who believe the play crosses a serious moral line—even if it’s meant as social commentary.
Defenders Say It Asks Tough Questions
Those defending the play argue that it’s challenging society’s comfort with sexualizing children in heteronormative ways while punishing queer portrayals.
Actor K Todd Freeman, who plays a reimagined Prince William, opens the show with a monologue tackling that very subject.
One viewer on Reddit said the play resonated with them because it reflected their own experience as a queer person realizing their identity through childhood photos and memories.
British Royals Pulled Into The Narrative
Beyond Prince George, the show also references Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew.
It satirizes the royal family broadly, with transgender actress Rachel Crowl portraying Princess Catherine and a diverse cast bringing various imagined versions of senior royals to life.
But the most contentious part remains the fact that the main character is unmistakably based on Prince George—with no effort to mask that identity.
UK Audiences May Never See It
Despite its popularity in New York, the show isn’t expected to make it to British stages anytime soon.
When asked if there were plans for a UK transfer, a spokesperson for the production declined to comment, only saying that “they’re letting the play speak for itself for now.”
Given the current backlash, especially in Britain, it’s likely the team is treading carefully.
A Play That Divides More Than It Unites
Whether Prince F**t is bold, brave art or just plain inappropriate depends on who you ask.
It’s ignited important conversations about queer identity, censorship, the ethics of speculative fiction—and the boundaries we place around public figures, even royal children.
Still, one thing is certain: this play isn’t fading quietly into the wings.
