THE King of rock n roll is shaking things up in Bristol this week as new Elvis-inspired musical Love Me Tender takes to the stage.

With quiffs and pelvis-thrusting in full force, this brand new show from Memphis the Musical writer Joe Dipietro is packed with 25 of Presley’s hits all performed in a variety of styles including the soulful sound of Mica Paris.

It is, like many others penned to show off the work of one of the world’s great bands or artists, a musical with a rather tenuous plot – sexy Elvis lookalike Chad (Ben Lewis) strolls into a behind-the-times Midwest American town to find bored young mechanic Natalie (Laura Tebutt) who instantly falls head over heels.

Whilst Natalie decides the only way to win Chad’s heart is by dressing up as a fellow leather jacket-wearing grease monkey, her fellow townsfolk are also lovestruck as couples fall for each other left, right and centre. There is much hilarity with mistaken identities, declarations of love and an outburst of One Night whenever a character realises they are smitten.

In fact, the first half in particular is laugh out loud funny. A cleverly-devised scene in which young forbidden lovebirds Lorraine (Aretha Ayeh) and Dean (Felix Mosse) are forced to part brings the house down as the rest of the company carry miniature houses and gardens and a tiny Greyhound bus is wheeled out across the stage. A rather erect human statue and handheld saloon doors are brilliant little touches which had everyone in stitches.

But the best thing about Love Me Tender, which only opened this new UK tour in Manchester last week, is of course the unforgettable songs and its huge array of talented singers.

Led by Mica Paris, whose heartfelt version of It Hurts Me brought out goosebumps, each of the 10 main characters including Shaun Williamson (Barry from Eastenders) can belt out a Presley number. Aretha Ayeh and Kate Tydman (Miss Sandra) are notably impressive and Sian Reeves, as the strict Mayor Matilda, is wonderfully over-the-top almost akin to a pantomime villain.

Love Me Tender features Elvis hits including Heartbreak Hotel, Blue Suede Shoes, Don’t be Cruel, Jailhouse Rock and numerous reprisals of the beautiful Can’t Help Falling in Love. But as well as being a show for fans of The King, it is a great night out which will leave you laughing all the way home.

Love Me Tender is on at the Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday, June 20.