IT COULD never happen, could it? Writer Louise Welsh has come up with a premise for an absurdist romp that sees a game show host “rise to the highest position in the land.” And from that point, all form of devastation and chaos results.

“Well, it could, and it has,” says a grinning Alasdair Hankinson, who is starring in Oran Mor play King Keich, this week at the Glasgow venue. “You only have to think of Donald Trump. One minute he’s on TV with The Apprentice and the next he’s become President.”

King Keich is inspired by Alfred Jarry’s surrealist play Ubu Roi. “The original production in 1896 ( it opened and closed on the same day) was a bit punk rock in its day,” says Hankinson, smiling. “It was so radical it caused riots in the street, lampooning the politicians of the day.”

And in fact it was the first production in which a cast member said the word “merde” on stage. But Ubu Roi went on to become a classic. “This play is about poking fun - while warning about the misuse of power,” he says of the piece, which also features Grant O’Rourke and Meghan Tyler .

The actor adds; “The play also reveals a bit of a sting in the tail. There is no point in simply preaching to the converted. And we have to factor in that President Trump didn’t get into the White House by two votes. But the people who are ignored then stage their own form of revolution.”

Hankinson plays Piles in this surrealist show, a sycophantic aide to King Keich. But he also plays another half a dozen characters. “Who needs the gym when you’re playing this lot,” he says, grinning. “The challenge is to remember which hat to wear at any time.”

Hankinson is however perfectly placed to play a range of characters. He trained at the National Youth Theatre and Scottish Youth Theatre, then Glasgow’s RSC and his talent has been recognised in being a previous winner of a Laurence Olivier Bursary from the Society of London Theatre.

He’s also had something of an itinerant life, which has resulted in an accent that’s hard to place. “I grew up in Macclesfield, in South Manchester. But my dad was in the army so we moved around a lot. I studied English in Aberdeen and then came to Glasgow to study drama.”

Did he always want to act? “I’d always enjoyed school plays. And acting means I get to be larger than life and able to express things you can’t normally do. In real life the parameters are set.”

He loves playing around with perfectly formed words. “It’s like that great bit in History Boys when Richard Griffiths’ character says the best bit about reading is when you find a piece of literature where someone has articulated an experience you’ve had, but struggle to articulate yourself. At times, plays give you that expression, or the chance to explore an area in your life you’ve been reticent to.”

One his his favourite roles? “I played Renfield in Liz Lochhead’s Dracula,” he recalls, grinning. “Renfield is a very damaged person but a man who is certain a force is coming, and no one is listening to him. He has the ramblings of a madman, but speaks a spectacular truth.” He adds; “The language was so good. It was great play in.”

Hankinson clearly isn’t damaged, although being an only child, you suggest, increases introspection? “It does make you use your imagination a lot more,” he laughs.

Which of the characters in King Keich is closest to his own? “Probably the peasant,” he says, with a smiling shrug. “I’m not very good at asking for what I want. I’ve gotten better at it. I just go with the flow.”

He pauses for a moment; “It’s like in a newspaper. There are only one or two stories that are important that day, which will have a bearing on history. To me, there are a lot of things that don’t matter. But the things that do matter I’m very passionate about.”

Hankinson is certainly passionate about acting. “It’s a calling,” he says. “I think if don’t feel you have to do it, you shouldn’t.”

The actor is clever, dry and funny. And self-deprecating. He tells a lovely story against himself how he messed up his first TV audition on leaving drama school. “I was huge,” he says, laughing of his performance. “I was waving my arms about a lot, trying to get a message across. Everyone was flabbergasted. But you learn never , ever to do that again.”

King Keich, Oran Mor, Glasgow, until Saturday.