The full line-up has been announced for Stories – Brought to Life, a new immersive exhibition from the National Portrait Gallery and FRAMELESS Creative.
Opening on 2 May 2025 at MediaCity, the experience will enable visitors to encounter some of the National Portrait Gallery’s most loved portraits like never before.
Focussing on some of the most influential figures featured in the Gallery’s collection, Stories promises an ‘emotional, multi-sensory’ experience.
Artworks featured will include iconic portraits of Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II, Ncuti Gatwa, Audrey Hepburn, Dorothy Hodgkin, Mai, Nelson Mandela, Emmeline Pankhurst, Grayson Perry, Mary Seacole, William Shakespeare, Amy Winehouse, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and Malala Yousafzai.
It will combine the highest-quality digital projection, Hollywood-style visual effects and the latest audio technology, along with specially-created musical scores and creative narratives to shine a new light on each individual.
Ryan Attwood, Creative Director for FRAMELESS said: “Working with a cultural institution like the National Portrait Gallery has been a unique experience, especially having the opportunity to draw upon the deep knowledge and passion of the curatorial team. But the magic has also come from studying the sitters and working with the families, estates and the sitters themselves to understand more about the individuals behind the portraits.”
Rab MacGibbon, Cross-Collections Curator the the National Portrait Gallery said: “The National Portrait Gallery is home to the largest collection of portraits in the world and hanging on our walls are some of the most remarkable people to have ever lived. Working with the team from FRAMELESS, and through exploring new technologies and creative approaches, has allowed us to look at the Collection in a completely new light. We are embarking on a journey of discovery, which we hope will inspire and entertain a new audience.”
The experience will open on 2 May 2025 and run until 31 August at MediaCity, before going on a yet-to-be-announced UK tour.
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