Stealin' dead folk's the American Dream?



Well, it's always been an incredibly elastic concept - so yes.

The plan is simple: Kidnap Elvis Presley's corpse. Stash him in a chest freezer. Collect the million-dollar ransom.

Memphis, 1977. When an enigmatic criminal mastermind offers small-time crook Vince Black the opportunity of a lifetime, Vince assembles a crack team of misfits and dropouts to attempt the heist of the century: swiping the earthly remains of The King of Rock and Roll.

Inspired by one of the strangest crime stories in American history, The King's Ransom, a new play by Stuart Slade, is a Southern-fried dark comedy about grief, redemption and spectacularly bad decisions. It is premiered at the Donmar Warehouse, London, in 2026.