EXACTLY six decades after Elvis Presley first walked into Sun Studios in Memphis as a teenage truck driver, the story of ‘The King’ is being brought to life at Weymouth Pavilion.

The Elvis Years comes to the Pavilion Theatre in Weymouth on Friday.

This authentic concert production of the highly acclaimed West End musical ‘Jailhouse Rock’ features original Elvis star Mario Kombou and his band and is led by legendary producer, musical director and Ivor Novello award-winner David Mackay.

The energetic show is a complete theatrical experience that transports the audience on a musical and emotional journey featuring the highs and lows of Elvis’s life – including the Grand Ole Opry, the ‘Louisiana Hayride’, the death of his beloved mother, his time in the army, the Hollywood movie years, the ‘68 Comeback Special and the incomparable Las Vegas concerts. Actor and singer Mario Kombou has been performing as Elvis for over 20 years.

He said: “Being cast in Jailhouse Rock was a dream come true for me – I got to play my favourite film character for eight shows a week.

“This made me want to delve deeper into Elvis’s career, which ultimately led to the creation of The Elvis Years.’”

Mario said the show tells the story of how a poor boy from Tupelo, Mississippi, went on to become the greatest musical icon the world has seen.

He added: “It portrays the most iconic moments of Elvis’s career and sets the scene of the different musical and social eras – taking the audience right back in time.”

Australian-born show producer and musical director, David Mackay, has produced major hits for some of the biggest names in music including Cliff Richard, Bonnie Tyler, Frankie Miller, Billy Ocean, Dusty Springfield, The Bee Gees and Eric Clapton.

David says: “Casting for Jailhouse Rock took an abnormally long time. Finding the lead man took us all over the country and on to America where we auditioned people in New York who were flown in from various parts of America.

“We brought some here to London to see them on stage with other previously chosen cast members, but the unanimous choice was UK-based Mario Kombou.”

With a world class cast, authentic costumes and rare film footage, The Elvis Years features more than 50 of the King’s greatest hits including ‘Hound Dog’, ‘It’s Now or Never’, ‘Just Can’t Help Believing’, ‘That’s Alright Mama’, ‘The Wonder Of You,’ ‘Suspicious Minds’ ‘American Trilogy’, as well as lesser known tracks such as ‘Rock A Hoola Baby’ and ‘Bossa Nova Baby’.

The Elvis Years cast comprises talent from some of the biggest and most successful West End shows including Les Miserables, Starlight Express, Buddy, Dancing in the Streets, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Only The Lonely and many more. The two-hour show plays at the Pavilion Theatre in Weymouth is from 7.30pm on Friday.