
Fans slam 'atrocious' immersive Elvis Presley show with tickets up to £300
Elvis Evolution was announced in January 2024 with a life-sized, digital Elvis as its golden ticket item which would perform 'iconic moments in musical history on a UK stage for the first time'.
The show also claimed it would use the smells and weather of Memphis to fully 'immerse' guests in the experience.
Creator Andrew McGuinness of Layered Reality promised at the time that 'intricate sets' would help make ticketholders 'feel like you've time travelled' – but punters now beg to differ.
Elvis Evolution officially opened on July 18, with tickets priced from £75 to £300 for the super VIP experience, including booking fees.
However, some who have already attended the event have felt let down as there is no Elvis hologram after all.
They instead described the show as 'absolutely atrocious', with Tracey Baldwin telling the BBC that 'you could have seen this at the local theatre for £30'.
'It was a shambles from start to finish, there was no Elvis, it was just a video of him that you could watch on YouTube,' she added, claiming that disappointed ticketholders left the show early.
She also said she felt that Layered Reality had been unfair to older fans and 'taken us for a fool by scamming us with technology that we won't understand'.
'A small number of people have pointed out that they were expecting a hologram concert, due to the initial announcement made in January 2024. As with many complex productions that are two years in the making, the concept developed from those early stages, and this was made clear when tickets went on sale in October 2024,' a spokesperson for Layered Reality told the outlet.
A Metro piece discussing Elvis Evolution with its creators ahead of tickets going on sale did not mention the Elvis hologram teased months earlier, with the team instead focusing on discussing its 'deeply personal and interactive format' and promising it would be 'a memory-making experience'.
The spokesperson continued: 'We ultimately took the creative decision not to mimic Elvis's performances. Those moments proved to be too iconic and irreplaceable. Instead, we use AI to upscale archive footage and in moments we know happened but where no footage existed, offering a new lens into his world.'
They also said the show has been praised by fans and they had been 'overwhelmed by the feedback, with many describing it as fun, immersive and unlike anything they've seen before', according to the publication.
There is no mention of any Elvis hologram on the experience's website. Rather it mentions that Elvis Evolution 'will use generative AI to deliver intimate moments, giving you exclusive glimpses behind the scenes, at never seen before moments in Elvis' history'.
It also claims the show uses 'groundbreaking digital techniques to bring the musical icon to life' and points to a partnership with the custodians of the Presley estate, which allowed access to personal photos and home-videos.
According to those who have seen Elvis Evolution, live actors playing different characters guide guests through the King's childhood and friendship with Sam Bell, as well as his career, in various themed locations, including a train carriage and a diner.
After an interval in a Hawaii-themed bar – complete with an Elvis cardboard cut-out for photo opportunities – ticketholders are then taken through to experience the King's 1968 comeback special concert broadcast on NBC as audience members.
Superfans Linzi Naldrett and Zoe Finch described the show as 'bizarre' and said that there was 'nothing in it that you've not seen before' if you're an Elvis fan.
Linzi also questioned where the 'AI immersive aspect came into it', saying of the grand final recreation: 'All it is is a projection on the back wall of the 1968 show, which you can buy on DVD or watch on iPlayer.'
Musicians also play live alongside the concert footage, according to photos from the event, as well as another separate band during the experience.
Skipping out on the included afterparty, she added to The Daily Star: 'At one point, I just had second hand embarrassment for the actors dancing and there was [sic.] a few young girls in tears of laughter at how awkward it all was.'
Elvis Evolution has also been met with mixed professional reviews, with The Telegraph awarding it just one star and slamming its 'limp and indifferent offerings' and 'underwhelming' partial recreation of the 1968 special, saying it is 'not worth a tenth of the price'.
However, TimeOut gave it three stars and called it 'a slick affair, heartfelt in its admiration for The King' even if comes with 'a difficult-to-defend ticket price'.
Critic Andrzej Łukowski revealed in a tweet alongside his review that people in his show's audience were 'actively booing it' although he felt it was 'actually basically fine, but still it probably needs a rethink'.
CityAM went one step further, awarding the show four stars and calling the experience 'incredibly touching'. More Trending
The breadth of reaction continued on social media too, with @bigboyb on X tweeting: 'Awful from start to finish. Felt like a GCSE performance on a shoestring budget.'
But according to the BBC some ticketholders on Facebook praised the experience as 'well-acted, innovative, exciting and a whole lot of fun', and another added that 'the majority of people were having fun'.
Elvis Evolution is at Immerse LDN at the Excel London and is currently scheduled to end on December 28.
Metro has contacted Layered Reality for further comment.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Gang lures celebrity barber to London with honey trap to steal £500,000 in crypto
MORE: Man guilty of murdering couple before dumping remains near Clifton Suspension Bridge
MORE: Major disruption at London Waterloo to last well beyond afternoon rush hour

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
27 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Game of Thrones star joins 'promising' new historical BBC drama opposite James Norton
The BBC has unveiled a sneak peek at the forthcoming historical drama King and Conqueror, set to broadcast next month. The series, formerly known as 1066, will see the pair battle for the throne alongside their respective wives. The teaser features James Norton in the role of Harold, Earl of Wessex, while Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, known for Game of Thrones, plays William, Duke of Normandy. The drama will depict the duo's struggle for the throne, alongside their respective wives, Edith Swan-neck (Emily Beecham) and Matilda (Clémence Poésy). The trailer also introduces allies and foes such as King Edward (Eddie Marsan), Lady Emma (Juliet Stevenson), Morcar (Elander Moore), Gytha (Clare Holman), Tostig (Luther Ford), Queen Gunhild (Bo Bragason) and Godwin (Geoff Bell). King and Conqueror tells the tale of a conflict that shaped the destiny of a nation – and a continent – for a millennium, with roots reaching back decades and extending through two intertwined family dynasties, vying for power across two countries and a turbulent sea, reports the Mirror. Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men fated to clash at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; two allies with no initial ambition for the English throne, who found themselves compelled by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for its crown. The programme consists of eight hour-long episodes and will also feature Jean-Marc Barr as King Henry, Elliott Cowan as Sweyn, Bjarne Henriksen as Earl Siward, Oliver Masucci as Baldwin, Indy Lewis as Margaret, Jason Forbes as Thane Thomas, Ingvar Sigurdsson as Fitzosbern, Ines Asserson as Judith, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson as Hardrada and Léo Legrand as Odo. Fresh promotional artwork for the drama presents a monochrome portrait of Harold with a resolute expression whilst William looms behind him, ready for combat. BBC audiences were swift to react to the programme's preview, with one commenting: "I hope they include the part where William had Harold buried on the beach, to guard the English shore.'I always found that quite touching, like a mark of his respect for such a great warrior." Another contributed: "The story of William the Conqueror; updated for a modern audience," whilst a third wrote: "Bout damn time they dropped this trailer. They been talking about this show for a year and a half." Someone else remarked: "Hopefully, this show will fulfill how I missed Vikings," as another contributed: "First i have heard of this but it seems really promising."


Daily Mirror
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Gabby Logan's huge net worth, new job with BBC, rugby ace son and sport star husband
Gabby Logan is set to host the BBC's coverage of the Women's Euro 2025 final between England and Spain on Sunday, but what do we know about the legendary sports presenter away from the screens? Gabby Logan is set to provide coverage for the highly anticipated Women's Euro 2025 final between England and Spain on Sunday. The Lionesses stamped their ticket to St. Jakob-Park in heroic fashion on Tuesday with a last-minute 2-1 win over Italy. Barbara Bonansea opened the scoring for Le Azzurre before a Michelle Agyemang strike sent the game to extra time. Chloe Kelly later netted a rebound from her missed spot kick to win the tie for England. Spain, meanwhile, stamped their own place in Sunday's final with a 1-0 win over Germany on Wednesday. Logan will host coverage of the fixture between England and Spain for the BBC, as the Lionesses look to defend their crown from three years ago. But what do we know about the legendary host both on and off screen? Here, Mirror Football breaks it down... Gabby Logan's substantial net worth Since launching her broadcasting career in 1992, Logan has held some prestigious positions and covered many flagship events for several broadcasters. She teamed up with Sky Sports in 1996, at a time when the industry was dominated by males, quickly becoming a recognisable face of British TV. She was selected as the host of Sport Relief in 2004 and joined the BBC permanently. In the years since, the 52-year-old has hosted her own morning show on BBC Radio 5 Live, worked on Final Score, Inside Sport, the Invictus Games, MOTD Six Nations, and The One Show, and has also had the privilege of covering the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Olympics in Paris. As a result of her professional endeavours, Logan is estimated to have racked up a significant fortune of around £4million, making her the highest female earner in the world of sports journalism. As per Sportcasting via SPORTbible, Logan also ranked seventh in a list of Britain's highest-earning sports presenters and pundits last year, with a salary of £210,000. A new role with the BBC As Gary Lineker announced that 2024/25 would be his final Premier League season at the helm of Match of the Day, the BBC was quick to rethink the set-up of their flagship football highlights show. And as a result, top chiefs decided not to replace Lineker, who had held tenure since 1999, with just one fresh face, but with three. For 2025/26, Logan will join Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates to front the programme, a move that she believes will give the show a completely different edge. Speaking about her new role, she said: "I think what's interesting is that although we're sharing the role, we won't actually be working together on Match of the Day. "It's really great to share it because we bring different experiences and different interests within the game. We bring different ways of broadcasting and that will mean our pundits are kept on their toes and share different kinds of analysis." It is reported that Logan, Chapman and Cates will split presenting duties on Match of the Day, MOTD 2 and MOTD: Champions League. It is the first time in history that three presenters will share the role. A sporting husband and a rugby star son Away from the screens, Logan has been married to rugby union star Kenny Logan since 2001, with the two striking up a romance after meeting in a bar in Chelsea. During his career as a winger, Kenny won three English Premierships with Wasps RFC and a Scottish Premiership title with Stirling County. He also represented his nation of Scotland on 70 occasions, racking up 220 points before retiring in 2004. The two welcomed twins with one another in 2005 in the form of Reuben and Lois. And Reuben has ultimately gone on to follow in his father's footsteps in rugby union as a career choice, with the 19-year-old kicking off his career as a flanker with Wasps at academy level in 2023. A move to Northampton Saints ensued the same year, where he remains to this day, although he spent last season on loan with Cambridge. However, it appears as though the Scotland U20 star will be on the move once more ahead of 2025/26, with Sale Sharks announcing the acquisition of the talent back in April. Speaking about the move, he said: "This is a great opportunity for me to play with and learn from some fantastic coaches and players – like the Curry brothers – who play in my position." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.


Daily Mirror
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
James Norton goes head to head with Game of Thrones star in epic BBC drama
James Norton will star opposite Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in new BBC drama King & Conqueror The BBC has revealed a first look at upcoming historical drama King & Conqueror, which is set to air next month. In the teaser, James Norton stars as Harold, Earl of Wessex, while Game of Thrones actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau portrays William, Duke of Normandy. The drama will see the pair battle for the throne alongside their respective wives, Edith Swan-neck (Emily Beecham) and Matilda (Clémence Poésy). The trailer also features allies and enemies such as King Edward (Eddie Marsan), Lady Emma (Juliet Stevenson), Morcar (Elander Moore), Gytha (Clare Holman), Tostig (Luther Ford), Queen Gunhild (Bo Bragason) and Godwin (Geoff Bell). King & Conqueror is the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea. Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; two allies with no design on the English throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown. The series is made up of eight 60 minute episodes and will also star Jean-Marc Barr as King Henry, Elliott Cowan as Sweyn, Bjarne Henriksen as Earl Siward, Oliver Masucci as Baldwin, Indy Lewis as Margaret, Jason Forbes as Thane Thomas, Ingvar Sigurdsson as Fitzosbern, Ines Asserson as Judith, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson as Hardrada and Léo Legrand as Odo. New key art for the series shows a black and white image of Harold with a determined look on his face while William stands behind him, poised for battle. BBC viewers were quick to comment on the teaser for the series, with one writing: "I hope they include the part where William had Harold buried on the beach, to guard the English shore. 'I always found that quite touching, like a mark of his respect for such a great warrior." Another added: "The story of William the Conqueror; updated for a modern audience," while a third penned: "Bout damn time they dropped this trailer. They been talking about this show for a year and a half." Someone else shared: "Hopefully, this show will fulfill how I missed Vikings," as another added: "First i have heard of this but it seems really promising."