ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS

Francis, a black man, is dressed as Elvis with a tall afro hair style. He is sitting on a toilet with his trousers around his ankles. He has a burger in his hand and looks into the camera. Text at the top in neon writing reads 'ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS'

After our sell-out, 5-star 2023 tour, ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS is back for an encore performance as part of Liberty Festival 2025. This one-off performance will bring this explosion of neurodivergent joy back to Battersea Arts Centre at 8.30pm on Thursday 25th September. Tickets are free and going quickly, so book fast to avoid disappointment!

As their journey progresses, they explore the thin line between the hilarity and tragedy of overeating and find themselves deep diving into the culinary conundrum surrounding the exact events of Elvis, The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, at the end of his life.

ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS has a non-linear narrative; it’s semi-improvised form creates an exhilarating ‘edge of your seat’ experience for audience and cast alike.

For more information about the 2023 Spring/Summer tour, head to our archive page.

ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS is devised by the four BLINK performer-directors who love food. If they’re not eating, they’re talking about it, dreaming about it, and now…dancing, rapping and rhyming about it.

Take a seat at their table as the cast spill the tea on their own memories, food stories and relationship to eating with plenty of their signature sensory and often bizarre tangents…Good Food Gospel anyone?

The ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS cast sit in a circle, talking to each other. Text reads 'A beautiful, life-affirming show. 5 Stars. To Do List.'
Cast members Rachel and Vicki dance under pink lighting. Text reads 'Very funny, engaging, and sometimes sad, it's a glorious way to start your day. 5 Stars. UK Theatre Web'.
Vicki strikes a pose in purple light, with an illuminate ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS sign behind her. Text reads 'The most challenging, courageous, brilliant, stand-out, moving and sophisticated show. Community Living Magazine'.
The cast of ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS, bathed in pink light, look out towards the crowd. Francis stands in the middle dressed as a the 'pasta pastor'. The rest are in choir robes, providing back up to his celebratory song. Text reads 'An utter fucking tr
Vicki speaks into a microphone, with a BSL interpreter next to her. The illuminate ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS sign is in the background. Text reads 'The biggest, brightest, warm hearted, skilled, moving creative 'feast', @artsturn'.
Rachel looks at Francis, served up and dressed as a burger on a golden trolley. Text reads 'Exhiliarating and inspiring, @Francesca_Valli'.
Delson, dressed as Elvis, jumps and his cape flies up behind him. Text on the image reads 'Joyful, funny, moving, important and glorious, @touretteshero'.
Vicki takes a big bite of birthday cake, looking slightly guilty. Text on the image reads 'An absolute romp through our relationship with food and love, poignant and hilarious in equal measure, @adam_rob_lloyd'.
Delson, dressed as Elvis, stares into an illuminated golden toilet, as the rest of the cast watch in darkness, looking sad. Text on the image reads: 'beautifully crafted punch of theatre, @KTLGoldfinch'
Francis is dressed as a burger, with a tomato ketchup bra. He has a cheeky-looking smile on his face, and behind him is a golden curtain and an illuminated neon sign saying 'ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS'. Text reads: 'Great, funny and emotional, @AdamNSmith

CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM

Cast / Creatives / Production Team

Cast
Performers Laura Day, Vicki Hawkins, Francis Majekodumni, Delson Weekes
BSL Interpreter Greg Colquhoun

Creatives
Co-Directors and Co-Creators Rachel Gildea, Vicki Hawkins, Francis Majekodumni, Delson Weekes
Dramaturgy Catherine Horton, Sue Mayo, Deborah Minà
Directors' Assistant Laura Day
Set and Costume Designer Hazel McIntosh
Initial Design Kat Heath
Lighting Designer Carly Altberg
Sound Designer Mat Hawkins, Alastair McNeill
Story Consultant Polar Bear
Dramatherapist Nikkia Da'Silva

Production Team
Artistic Support Workers Connie Chinn
Stage and Communications Manager Zoe Dowler
Access and Inclusion Manager Siobhán Wedgeworth

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Cast / Creatives / Production Team

How do I book?

You can book your free ticket for the show by visiting the Battersea Arts Centre website, or following this link.

How long is the performance?

ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS is 60 minutes long.

How accessible is the performance?

ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS has integrated BSL interpretation throughout the show. This performance will also be captioned and audio described.

All BLINK Dance Theatre performances are relaxed. This means the audience can (and are encouraged to) make noise, move around the space and express themselves however they feel comfortable. They can also leave and reenter the space as needed.

You can find more information about this show, including a visual story, in our Self Care Guide here.

For access information about the venue, Battersea Arts Centre, please visit their Access Page here.

Are there any content or trigger warnings for this show?

This production involved haze, slow flashing lights (there is no strobe), loud and sudden noises, and one moment of complete darkness.

Throughout the show, themes of food and overeating and themes of death are discussed. There is also some strong language and scenes of a mildly sexual nature.

What is Liberty Festival?

Liberty Festival is the Mayor of London’s flagship disability arts festival, platforming some of the most exciting disabled creatives, showcasing bold, innovative work for free that excites, challenges and reframes disability for audiences across the capital and hosted in each London Borough of Culture.

Find out more about Liberty Festival here.

What is Welcome to Wandsworth?

Welcome to Wandsworth is Wandsworth’s London Borough of Culture programme. Across the year, Wandsworth is bringing people together to enjoy the rich mix of traditions, festivals, food, and arts that make the borough so special. It’s about creating something we can all be proud of and building connections that will last well into the future.

Find out more about Welcome to Wandsworth here.

Who do I contact if I still have questions?

If you have any other questions about accessibility, you can contact our Access and Inclusion Manager Siobhán Wedgeworth by email at siobhan@blinkdancetheatre.org.

For any other questions, you can contact our Communications and Impact Manager Zoe Dowler by email at zoe@blinkdancetheatre.org.
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