Latest news with #LayeredReality
The Guardian
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Noticeable booing' – is the ‘atrocious' Elvis Evolution this summer's Willy Wonka experience?
Name: Elvis Evolution. Age: New this week. Appearance: Up to 12 shows a day at Excel London, until December. What is it? A 'first of its kind' production, according to its creators, 'celebrating the life and work of Elvis Presley.' Celebrating it how? With a 'walk-through experience' combining 'cutting-edge digital technology, live actors and musicians, mind-blowing multimedia and heart-pounding music'. So is it holograms of Elvis and that? Not exactly, no. Can you be more specific? You really have to see it to describe it, and that will set you back at least £75. At least? VIP tickets are more like £300. And what have the people who have seen it said? Different things. Like what? 'Absolutely atrocious,' was the assessment of one attender. Not quite two thumbs up, then. '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,' a VIP ticket holder told the BBC. Oh dear. Then again, some fans seem to have really enjoyed it, with one saying she 'loved every minute'. What about the reviews? Decidedly mixed. The Telegraph gave it one star and described it as 'a limp assembly of video, actors, a live band and indifferently recreated sets'. Time Out was much more positive, giving it three stars, but also alluding to 'a noticeable amount of booing'. How do you explain the discrepancy? It appears to be a matter of expectations. When the show was announced last year, the creators, Layered Reality, suggested it would use AI and holographic projection to create a lifesize digital Elvis, leading to obvious comparisons with the hugely successful virtual reality extravaganza Abba Voyage. But it's nothing of the kind? 'We ultimately took the creative decision not to mimic Elvis's performances,' said a company spokesperson. 'Instead, we use AI to upscale archive footage.' What does that mean? Reviews suggest they have dressed up some footage from Elvis's 1968 comeback TV special and built a show around it (which includes visits to three separate themed bars selling expensive drinks). Sounds more like an escape room. Some visitors have drawn comparisons to that Willy Wonka experience fiasco in Glasgow last year. Is it really that bad? They certainly have a problem on their hands. On Sunday, the show had to be stopped after an audience member who allegedly kept shouting 'This is bollocks!' was dragged from the venue by security. Do say: 'We're caught in a trap – we can't walk out.' Don't say: 'Elvis has left the building.'
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Noticeable booing' – is the ‘atrocious' Elvis Evolution this summer's Willy Wonka experience?
Name: Elvis Evolution. Age: New this week. Appearance: Up to 12 shows a day at Excel London, until December. What is it? A 'first of its kind' production, according to its creators, 'celebrating the life and work of Elvis Presley.' Celebrating it how? With a 'walk-through experience' combining 'cutting-edge digital technology, live actors and musicians, mind-blowing multimedia and heart-pounding music'. So is it holograms of Elvis and that? Not exactly, no. Can you be more specific? You really have to see it to describe it, and that will set you back at least £75. At least? VIP tickets are more like £300. And what have the people who have seen it said? Different things. Like what? 'Absolutely atrocious,' was the assessment of one attender. Not quite two thumbs up, then. '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,' a VIP ticket holder told the BBC. Oh dear. Then again, some fans seem to have really enjoyed it, with one saying she 'loved every minute'. What about the reviews? Decidedly mixed. The Telegraph gave it one star and described it as 'a limp assembly of video, actors, a live band and indifferently recreated sets'. Time Out was much more positive, giving it three stars, but also alluding to 'a noticeable amount of booing'. How do you explain the discrepancy? It appears to be a matter of expectations. When the show was announced last year, the creators, Layered Reality, suggested it would use AI and holographic projection to create a lifesize digital Elvis, leading to obvious comparisons with the hugely successful virtual reality extravaganza Abba Voyage. But it's nothing of the kind? 'We ultimately took the creative decision not to mimic Elvis's performances,' said a company spokesperson. 'Instead, we use AI to upscale archive footage.' What does that mean? Reviews suggest they have dressed up some footage from Elvis's 1968 comeback TV special and built a show around it (which includes visits to three separate themed bars selling expensive drinks). Sounds more like an escape room. Some visitors have drawn comparisons to that Willy Wonka experience fiasco in Glasgow last year. Is it really that bad? They certainly have a problem on their hands. On Sunday, the show had to be stopped after an audience member who allegedly kept shouting 'This is bollocks!' was dragged from the venue by security. Do say: 'We're caught in a trap – we can't walk out.' Don't say: 'Elvis has left the building.'
Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Fans demand refunds over cardboard cutouts at Elvis ‘hologram' show
It was the show that brought the Seventies back to life and gave the UK economy a £1.4 billion boost. But replicating the success of Abba Voyage, as it turns out, requires far more than just the promise of a few digital dancing queens — or kings. Paige Rannigan, 29, from Essex, spent more than £200 on tickets for the Elvis Evolution show at the ExCel Centre in London, expecting a 'life-sized digital Elvis'. She left feeling like she had been sold fool's gold. 'There were three musicians on the stage in front of the screen, acting as the musicians that were there in real life,' she said. 'But their instruments weren't plugged in and there was fake applause over the top. There were only about three songs on his '68 comeback video, but it was anything you could look up on YouTube or iPlayer.' Fans of the King of Rock and Roll were left reeling when a show that promised a 'life-sized digital Elvis performing iconic moments in musical history on a UK stage for the first time' delivered a completely different experience. Several who attended claimed the event was 'money-grabbing' and 'bizarre'. Layered Reality, the production company behind Elvis Evolution, had initially suggested that the 'brand new interactive experience' would involve cutting-edge AI and holographic imagery. Plans for the hologram were scrapped — along with any hopes of experiencing something on the scale of Abba Voyage. 'There were clips of Lilo and Stitch that had Elvis Presley and football fans singing Elvis songs,' Rannigan said. 'We had gone in with the expectation there was going to be a hologram. But it was completely not like that. It was really bizarre. We left completely bewildered. 'We were promised a live band at the after party. We didn't even get that, other than a DJ that played Blue Suede Shoes three times. We probably had a better time watching the '68 comeback at home.' Announced in January last year, Elvis Evolution takes the audience on a journey through Presley's life from his 'humble beginnings in Tupelo' to the 'iconic '68 special performance'. The 'immersive experience' is also described as including 'live theatre, multi-sensory technology and generative AI to bring the musical icon to life in an authentic tribute'. The audience is taken through Presley's youth before an interval, in the form of a Hawaii-themed bar with a cardboard cut-out of the star. Then they watch a version of his 1968 comeback special performance that was broadcast live on NBC. Opening on Friday for a six-month run, admission cost £75 for a standard ticket and £300 for a 'Super VIP' option, which includes mid-show champagne, a commemorative glass, dedicated seating, a drink at each of the three bars and access to the cloakroom. Daniel Deveraux Leclerc, who bought tickets, said: 'At the time of booking, the show was presented as an immersive tribute of significant technological and emotional depth. The experience that unfolded, however, bore little resemblance to what had been promised. Claims concerning holographic performance, innovative stagecraft and authentic homage to Elvis Presley were overstated. 'This is not simply a matter of personal dissatisfaction. It reflects a wider issue of consumer trust and editorial responsibility.' As criticism of the show intensified on Tuesday, Layered Reality said staff had eventually made the 'creative decision not to mimic Elvis's performances'. • Elvis Presley is back in the building as AI concert announced for London An Elvis Evolution spokesman said: 'We've been overwhelmed by the feedback, with many describing it as fun, immersive and unlike anything they've seen before. 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. 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. 'Elvis Evolution is not a traditional concert or hologram show. It's a major scale, theatrical experience priced competitively that invites audiences into the world of Elvis through immersive design, selective use of cutting-edge technology, live actors and musicians.' Layered Reality added: 'This is an experience where the story leads the technology, not the other way around. While we understand that expectations can be shaped by comparisons to other formats, we're incredibly proud of what's been created and how it's reconnecting people with Elvis in a bold and meaningful way. We can't wait for more audiences to step inside and experience it for themselves.' Several audience members have shared more positive reviews on social media, while others have also expressed their upset over the experience and demanded refunds. Meanwhile, Shanine Salmon said she purchased £6.50 preview tickets via Show Film First, which recruits audiences, but said she was expecting an interactive experience similar to the Tutankhamen exhibition. 'In the interval I heard tickets were £75 plus and the project cost £10 million,' she said. 'I think as well as speaking to fans there needs to be investigation where this money is going. There are clearly not enough staff, not enough actors and the technology isn't doing anything groundbreaking. It is not providing what it was promised. There is no way £300 ticket holders are getting value for money.' Britt Barnes White said that while she was disappointed by the lack of a hologram she had still 'loved every minute' of the 'I Can Dream' VIP package. Layered Reality has previously produced immersive experiences including The Gunpowder Plot and Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds. Elvis Evolution is set to run at ExCel London until December. When first announced, the show was due to move to Las Vegas, Berlin and Tokyo after London, but this has not been confirmed.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Moment pensioner is dragged out of immersive Elvis Presley show by burly security guards after he called it ‘b*****ks'
THIS is the moment a pensioner was dragged out of an immersive Elvis Presley show by security - after allegedly calling it 'b*****ks'. Shocking video shows the elderly man being carried out of the building by his arms and legs as onlookers pleaded with four burly guards to leave him alone. 4 The pensioner was pushed to the floor by security guards Credit: supplied 4 He was dragged out after criticising the show Credit: Supplied The backpack-clad fan is thought to have travelled to the Elvis Evolution at Excel London with a coach trip on Sunday afternoon. Witnesses say he was asked to leave when he criticised the experience but refused - prompting security to throw him out. Laura Cadden, 42, who filmed the incident, told The Sun: 'People were talking and basically everybody was saying 'this is a load of rubbish'. 'The elderly gentleman then said 'this is b*****ks' - at which point they turned all the lights up and got the security from the Excel to come in. Read More "They asked him to leave, he said 'I'm not going anywhere at the moment, I'll leave in my good time'. 'So they pushed him onto his knees and four of them each took an arm or leg and dragged him out… 'He was just expressing his opinion about the show, which was absolutely valid, because it was dreadful.' Laura, who had travelled down from Most read in The Sun Guests were asked to leave and the subsequent shows were cancelled. They were told to contact organisers Layered Reality for a refund. It is the latest blow for the 'high-tech' performance, which promised a dazzling journey through the King of Rock and Roll's life when it opened earlier this month. Some attendees had been expecting cutting-edge holograms to rival the smash hit But furious audiences, who paid up to £300 each for VIP tickets, They compared it to last year's Elvis Evolution said its plans for a hologram concert announced in early 2024 were dropped during development - but insisted this was 'made clear when tickets went on sale'. Organisers said the elderly man was removed on Sunday for being 'verbally aggressive' towards staff. A spokesperson for Elvis Evolution said: 'A guest attending the event on Sunday night became verbally aggressive towards our staff. "Despite being politely asked to stop, the behaviour escalated, with the guest explicitly stating his intention to continue making threats towards our staff and performers. 'The on-site management team engaged promptly and professionally, requesting that the individual leave the venue. When he refused to comply, the security team were called to assist, and the individual was subsequently removed from the premises. 'While we regret any disruption caused to other guests, the safety and wellbeing of our staff, cast and visitors is our highest priority.' Excel London was approached for comment. 4 Organisers said the elderly man was removed on Sunday for being 'verbally aggressive' towards staff Credit: Supplied 4 Guests were asked to leave and the subsequent shows were cancelled Credit: Supplied
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Moment pensioner is dragged out of immersive Elvis Presley show by burly security guards after he called it ‘b*****ks'
THIS is the moment a pensioner was dragged out of an immersive Elvis Presley show by security - after allegedly calling it 'b*****ks'. Shocking video shows the elderly man being carried out of the building by his arms and legs as onlookers pleaded with four burly guards to leave him alone. 4 4 The backpack-clad fan is thought to have travelled to the Elvis Evolution at Excel London with a coach trip on Sunday afternoon. Witnesses say he was asked to leave when he criticised the experience but refused - prompting security to throw him out. Laura Cadden, 42, who filmed the incident, told The Sun: 'People were talking and basically everybody was saying 'this is a load of rubbish'. 'The elderly gentleman then said 'this is b*****ks' - at which point they turned all the lights up and got the security from the Excel to come in. "They asked him to leave, he said 'I'm not going anywhere at the moment, I'll leave in my good time'. 'So they pushed him onto his knees and four of them each took an arm or leg and dragged him out… 'He was just expressing his opinion about the show, which was absolutely valid, because it was dreadful.' Laura, who had travelled down from Coventry with her husband Jason, said staff then told the other punters they could no longer continue because it was a 'security risk'. Guests were asked to leave and the subsequent shows were cancelled. They were told to contact organisers Layered Reality for a refund. It is the latest blow for the 'high-tech' performance, which promised a dazzling journey through the King of Rock and Roll's life when it opened earlier this month. Some attendees had been expecting cutting-edge holograms to rival the smash hit ABBA Voyage virtual gigs. But furious audiences, who paid up to £300 each for VIP tickets, say there was no 3D avatar - just an actor dancing in front of video clips of the icon. They compared it to last year's Willy Wonka experience flop in Glasgow. Elvis Evolution said its plans for a hologram concert announced in early 2024 were dropped during development - but insisted this was 'made clear when tickets went on sale'. Organisers said the elderly man was removed on Sunday for being 'verbally aggressive' towards staff. A spokesperson for Elvis Evolution said: 'A guest attending the event on Sunday night became verbally aggressive towards our staff. "Despite being politely asked to stop, the behaviour escalated, with the guest explicitly stating his intention to continue making threats towards our staff and performers. 'The on-site management team engaged promptly and professionally, requesting that the individual leave the venue. When he refused to comply, the security team were called to assist, and the individual was subsequently removed from the premises. 'While we regret any disruption caused to other guests, the safety and wellbeing of our staff, cast and visitors is our highest priority.' Excel London was approached for comment. 4
