Preview: The People vs. Donald Trump at The London Theatre

The London Theatre is proud to showcase the world premiere of political satire The People Vs Donald Trump. This is a highly provocative and entertaining expose of what one imagines has occurred “behind closed doors” during combustible interactions between Trump, his family members, and associates, followed by a semi-improvised trial, where writer Max Lopert and Trump performer Matthew Shelton debate Trump’s actions in office.

No punches are pulled in this daring and unprecedented depiction of Trump and his bullying, narcissistic, dishonest, and greedy persona, even when it comes to his own children. Everyone’s worst suspicions of how this man got elected and pushed his way to the top are realized on stage in this tragicomedy, which culminates in a criminal trial of Trump for using his office to betray the American people and enrich himself at all costs.

The play is written and directed by American playwright Max Lopert, formerly a successful trial lawyer with experience as a Special Attorney in the US Attorney’s Office in San Francisco. His extraordinary record in winning jury trials, both for the federal government and in private practice, will be displayed in the cross-examination of Trump at the climax of the play.

The part of Donald Trump will be played by US actor/director Matthew Shelton. His mother, Jean Shelton, is the renowned San Francisco acting instructor; his late father, Robert Elross, was an actor; and his brother and sister, Christian Phillips and Wendy Phillips, are both actor-directors. Matthew is artistic director of Shelton Theater, specialising in method acting (as taught by Stella Adler and popularised by Marlon Brando), where he teaches acting, directs plays and short films, and occasionally acts in independent films.

The play will run six nights only in London before it’s moving to a larger venue. The author has chosen to stage this play in London in light of recent riots in the US that make it clear that this powerful play needs a British audience.