New musical TRUMP L'OEIL to play Upstairs at the Gatehouse

Photo credit: Daniel Rader

Fresh out of a successful Off-Broadway run in 2021, musical Trump L’Oeil will receive its UK  premiere at Upstairs at The Gatehouse from 7 September-2 October.

This surrealist musical exploration of  Trump’s presidency brings a tongue-in-cheek retelling of the Trump years and blends cabaret, queer theatre and circus.  

Inspired by Escher’s stairwell, Magritte’s apples and Dali’s melting clocks, the songs are themselves textual illusions as the writer, Henry Parkman Biggs, uses acrostics, anagrams and  lipograms to craft hidden messages within the songs, taking his 30-year lyrical commitment in  this area as the artist Headmess to a whole new level. With a wide range of musical influences,  from rap to bubblegum pop, this cheeky and challenging musical presents a decidedly unique  blend of art and politics through the artistic technique of trompe l’oeil (optical illusion).  

Life hilariously imitates art as Trump and his presidency are marched through a series of  surrealist art and trompe l’oeil landscapes. Directed by Oli Savage, choreographed by Blair Anderson, and with musical supervision by Mark Crossland, the  musical follows Trump as he ascends to power and the world flips on its head – which is great  for some, hard for others, and for everyone, just a little surreal. 

Director Oli Savage said: “For people in the English-speaking world – especially outside of  the USA – the Trump administration was one of the most horrifically surreal periods in  modern political history. And the scars from that period are far from healed. But nothing heals  like laughter. With this show, we’re taking a blend of satire, drag, circus, cabaret, with a healthy  dollop of surrealist art to show just how crazy that period was. But more than that, we’re trying  to have fun, and by taking the piss out of a very, very dark time, create a sense of joy,  amusement, and hope.” 

Trump L’Oeil promises to be cheeky, challenging, and a lot of fun!  

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.