Following an extended run in the French capital, Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show is now in London. The show is part-runway, part-biography and part-musical. It focuses on the life, career and inspirations of Gaultier.

The show spent two years in production with Gaultier himself involved at every stage. The music was directed by Chic’s Nile Rodgers and the show features over 200 of Gaultier’s designs. It originally opened at the Folies Bergère in Paris and it’s now playing at London’s  Southbank Centre. The spectacular production is a part of the Southbank’s summer program which also features Queer Icon Peaches.

Dancing bears, British punks, and ’90s Madonna, the production is a celebration of everything that Gaultier loves. He pays tribute to David Bowie, photographers Pierre et Gilles, and his maternal grandmother. Gaultier pokes fun at the fashion establishment mocking Karl Lagerfeld, a certain female editor and, even Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II.

After one performance last week Gaultier took to the stage and spoke on his love for London. “It’s more exciting to see the show open here in London than Paris” commented the designer. “I went to London for the first time in 1973 and remember going to lots of clubs. I remember seeing a poster for the Rocky Horror Show play on Kings Road. It was before the movie and it was a shock… it truly inspired me. I felt good in London. London is dear to my heart and a constant source of inspiration”.

Take a look at the trailer for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show below.

The Southbank Summer series runs until September 8th 2019 at Londons Southbank Centre.