Immersive War of the Worlds and Elvis Evolution shows close suddenly

Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Experience has closed at its Leadenhall Street venue after seven years, following the collapse of the company licensed to operate it.

In a statement, the production team confirmed that Ellipsis Entertainment, which ran the attraction, had ceased trading, leading to the immediate shutdown of the site at 56 Leadenhall Street.

According to the War of the Worlds production: “The Experience had just undergone a £400,000 upgrade to the venue and production that we were due to announce imminently”.

The team said they were informed of the company’s situation suddenly and moved to try to take over operations. Representatives attended the venue, met staff and performers, and outlined plans to continue running the experience: during the period of financial turbulence Wayne “personally covered the Ellipsis staff and actor payroll of approximately 60 people”, but to no avail.

The statement added that legal and insurance requirements meant the venue could not continue operating under the existing structure, leaving closure as the only option.

Audience members due to attend have been affected. One ticket holder, who contacted WhatsOnStage, said they arrived at the venue on 30 April to find a notice on the door confirming the closure, adding: “a kind employee came and told us that all staff had been made redundant at midnight of that day and the experience was closed.”

Ticket holders who booked through LW Tickets will be refunded automatically, while those who purchased through third-party vouchers have been advised to contact the original provider.

The production team confirmed that touring concert versions of The War of the Worlds will continue. They also stated that discussions are ongoing about a potential return of the immersive production in a different form.

Ellipsis’ production of Elvis Evolution has also closed its doors following a nine-month run at Immerse London in the eastern part of the capital.