Prince Faggot

by Jordan Tannahill, Brontez Purnell (Contributor), Hari Nef (Contributor)

In this metatheatrical tragicomedy, an ensemble of queer and trans performers cast themselves in a thought experiment, imagining the future heir to the British throne as having a life resembling their own. Jordan Tannahill, one of Canada’s most acclaimed playwrights, takes no prisoners in this ferociously audacious what-if, brimming with unbridled sexuality, wit, and imagination. A poppers-fuelled phantasmagoria interwoven with personal stories and ecstatic fantasies, Prince Faggot reckons with how the forces of power, privilege, and colonization play upon queer lives.

Genres: Queer, Plays, LGBT, Theatre

165 pages, Paperback

Published December 16, 2025

About the author

Jordan Tannahill is a Canadian novelist and playwright based in London.

His debut novel, Liminal, won France's 2021 Prix des Jeunes Libraires. His second novel, The Listeners, was a Canadian bestseller, and was shortlisted for the 2021 Giller Prize.

Tannahill is the author of several plays, and the book of essays, Theatre of the Unimpressed.

In 2019, CBC Arts named Tannahill as one of sixty-nine LGBTQ Canadians, living or deceased, who has shaped the country's history.

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

This imagining of years from now, when Prince George 'comes out' to the Royal Family, caused quite a bit of controversy, but was a surprise Off-Bway hit anyway - perhaps BECAUSE of that. Some of it is very funny, and yet has a sting in its tail - but the pro-gay preachiness did grate a bit every now and then (... and I say this as an out queer man myself).

The play starts out speculating what this picture of George at age 4, looking quite fetchingly fey, might indicate about his sexuality - which many people found to be a vile form of speculation, and which the play addresses head-on in its opening moments (as one character boldly states: “Frankly, I think we’ve been doing a terrible job at grooming. I mean look at how many straights there still are.”:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

Hoping some enterprising gay theatre company will do this here in SF- I'd be interested in seeing how it 'plays'.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/th...
https://newyorktheater.me/2025/07/08/...
https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/r...

[Aaron Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute. (Like, sincerely. It was cute. No shade.)

I liked the sex scenes.

[Naveen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe a bit too ambitious for its own good, but it’s all very well done in the end. Plays like intellectual, self aware fan art and it’s really cool.

A few notes
Visibility isn’t the end goal of queer acceptance and queer politics.
If the royals can’t even be gay how are we, the common people (oppressed and stolen from), supposed to do anything?
And ultimately being queer is something that we simply are, not something that we have to explain philosophically (of dare I say conceptually).

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this off Broadway in November and have thought about it every day since. I came home and bought a copy, then had to wait for it to be printed. but it was worth it. I wanted to digest it slower and catch the moments when people were speaking over each other.

So worth the wait! This not only spoke to me at this stage in my life. It validated the queer kid hiding who he was. It brought to light the issues with my ex that were cultural and racial and led to the end of that relationship - among other reasons. I currently work in the recovery field and have to recognize that this also examines addiction - substances and sex.

I cried at the end of the performance and again at the end of reading it. I have not had such an emotional reaction to a piece of art in a long while. This has awoken a huge part of me and healed parts of me I thought were healed. This has been a year of growth and healing; 2025 has truly been a journey of self-actualization. I am thankful that this last-minute decision to see this play came into my life at this point. I am glad that I read it after to truly internalize even more from it.

This is an investigation into what it means to be queer, what it means to have the conflict between the heart and duty, what it means to struggle and come to terms and face the world. This was a stellar play. It is raw and visceral - and I don't want to sound cliche when saying that, but it's the truth. This gutted me in all the best ways. This also gave me a hope, strangely - I'll say no more to not spoil anything. This is sure to be a queer classic.

[Ellis Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw the work in October, and yeah, love a queer play filled with faggtory. Extremely excited for the next Tannahill work.

[Chels Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prince Faggot by Jordan Tannahill
Is Heartbreaking.


This needs to be a stage production (near me) soon that I can enjoy. But until then I am happy to have read the script. It’s a beautiful meditation on assumed sexuality and one(very public) family’s repetitive trauma.

To be clear it’s not heartbreaking for the Prince but for the society and future that is presented not just for the Prince, but us: Nationally, Internationally, Environmentally, Socially, nothing is better. All because of the control the elite have over the public, and it seems the public has over them.

But in truth it’s just the loudest voices taking control and not the true/real. And that is what’s heartbreaking. A world where even the most well positioned must resort to hidden symbols to show their true wishes.

After a few years of royal fandom with The Crown, endless Diana stories, or other docu-dramas about this royal or another. Not to mention the news and historical impact from all of those from just one Victoria Royal line. And of course having English grandparents; one can see the echoes of the past still infesting the new generation with repeating consequences. Just let us all love who we want to love.

This play is for anyone that wishes to be heartbroken or cannot find a stage production. It should be a book club book! Must read!

[Andrew Millman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the play expecting it to be good but mostly light fun. From the opening monologues, I knew I was in for something different than what I’d gone in expecting. Amusing, yes, but also deeply moving and cathartic. I think the theater—shirtless vendor twink and predominantly gay men—was an integral part of the experience, not to mention the great performances of the actors involved, but there was something rewarding in reading the lines as written. The same catharsis of emotions I felt watching the play came through on the page, making me question and reevaluate so much about my own identity. Prince [british cigarette] surprised me and I think that’s one of the highest compliments I can give.

[John Perine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Who here is divinely anointed? I ask you. Who here is chosen by god.
I am.
I am chosen by god.
I am chosen by god.
And better. I am chosen by those who love me.”

Sobbed. RIP Bertolt Brecht 100% you would’ve written this exact same play if you had seen the photo of Prince George admiring the helicopter.

This play captures such a specific energy of what I dream contemporary theatre to be. The Performers’ monologues are SO brilliant in the ways that they can only exist in the context of this play, and they’re so personal and cutting…. Unreal. Favorite of the year so far.

[aster · Rating 5 out of 5]

soooooooo good. strikes such a nice balance of absurd and lived in. feels very true, which is a big compliment for a self-proclaimed fairy tale. i really like the interstitial monologues!!! brecht is alive and does poppers confirmed!

[Kayden Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you everand

the sex scene was so real it was scary.

does end a tad abruptly and kinda hovers around similar ideas for the entire play

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explicit, subversive, uncomfortable, and unapologetically queer. Definitely going to need to check out more from Jordan Tannahill - this is the kind of theatre that we need right now.

[ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

the secret to having the ability to publish rpf is when it’s artistic and campy.