UK - Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition opened at Excel London in March 2025, inviting visitors to step inside the story of the boy king in a spectacular reimagining of Ancient Egypt. Produced by FKP Scorpio Entertainment and created by Madrid Artes Digitales (MAD), the 26,000sq.ft experience blends archaeology, storytelling and immersive technology.
At the heart of the show is a towering 8m-high, 360-degree projection-mapped environment – an engineering feat designed to transport audiences to a richly detailed ancient world. This central immersive space, known as the ‘black box’, was designed and installed by Belgian multimedia specialists Painting with Light (PWL), with projection powered by Epson and media playback delivered by Hive’s high-performance Beeblade system.
From the outset, the project came with an ambitious timeline. PWL had just under four months to design, build, install and commission the black box for opening night – a full-scale immersive theatre powered by 44 Epson projectors and featuring spatial audio, projection mapping and flawless synchronisation. The venue presented its own challenges, including uneven flooring, changing ceiling heights and limited build time, requiring bespoke adaptation. With multiple international partners involved, the pressure was on to deliver a fully integrated solution that would not only wow audiences but also set a standard for future touring venues.
Hive’s Beeblade Pluto media servers, housed in three compact Beehive enclosures, served as the backbone of the experience. Known for their plug-and-play reliability, perfect synchronisation across multiple outputs using Beesync, easy-to-use software and scalable, low-power architecture, Hive’s systems were chosen for their ability to perform seamlessly day in, day out.
The projection canvas covered more than 1,200sq.m, with content playing across massive ultra-wide resolutions and 30fps. The result was a seamless visual journey through ancient tombs, temples and landscapes – rendered in stunning clarity and synchronised to an immersive 3D audio environment.
Adding to the technical achievement was the speed and precision of the calibration process. VIOSO, known for its auto-alignment technology, calibrated all 44 projectors onsite in just two days. Its camera-based solution, newly integrated with Hive’s playback system, allowed for pixel-perfect warping and blending with the added benefit of one-touch recalibration should any projector shift over time. The success of this integration was particularly rewarding for the team, marking a new benchmark in efficient setup for large-scale immersive projects.
Despite the complexity of the installation, the system proved reliable under pressure. When a power outage struck during a live show, PWL’s technical team responded instantly – remotely diagnosing the issue and guiding on-site personnel to a solution within hours, ensuring the exhibition continued with minimal disruption.
The London run is the latest in a string of international showings for the exhibition, which has already captivated over 1.8m visitors across 12 cities including Madrid and Cairo. But it’s also the first time the new, modular black box format has been deployed – designed specifically for ease of repeat use as the experience tours new markets.
Peter van Bilsen, strategic director at PWL, praised the collaboration: “Working with Hive on Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition was a true example of how the right technology and teamwork can deliver exceptional results under pressure. Hive’s media server proved to be reliable and perfectly suited to the fast turnaround. We’re proud of the outcome and of the great collaboration that got us there.”
Hive’s managing director and co-founder, Mark Calvert, added: “Working at London’s new immersive venue, ImmerseLDN, was a fantastic experience. This project brought together expert teams – from PWL’s seamless install to Epson’s projection, VIOSO’s calibration and MAD’s storytelling. We’re proud Hive technology helped power such a loved attraction. Huge thanks to PWL for their enthusiasm towards Hive – we’re excited for what’s next.”
