Churchill, Malala and Amy Winehouse come to life in this immersive MediaCity art exhibition

Imagine walking through a gallery where Winston Churchill stares you down mid-speech, Malala Yousafzai shares her journey of courage, and Amy Winehouse sings softly to your soul: all in one incredible, immersive experience.

This May, MediaCity in Salford becomes the stage for a world-first exhibition that fuses iconic portraiture with cutting-edge storytelling.

Stories – Brought to Life, launching Friday, 2nd May, invites visitors to step inside the National Portrait Gallery’s most celebrated portraits: quite literally.

Stories – Brought to Life

Created by the visionary team behind FRAMELESS, the UK’s leaders in immersive art experiences, this cinematic spectacle reimagines the traditional gallery visit.

With the help of Hollywood-level visual effects (courtesy of VFX legends Cinesite, known for Harry Potter and Marvel magic), the lives of historical greats and cultural trailblazers burst into motion across 10,000 square feet of digital gallery space.

From Queen Elizabeth I to Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare to Virginia Woolf, and modern icons like Ncuti Gatwa, Grayson Perry, and Malala Yousafzai, visitors will journey through a moving, multi-sensory celebration of the personalities who shaped, and are still shaping, British history and culture.

Each portrait is more than just an image: it’s a portal. Framed by stunning visuals, sound design, animation, and archival footage, every moment has been meticulously crafted with input from curators, families, and even some of the sitters themselves.

You’ll hear their voices. See their worlds. Feel their stories.

You can get tickets by clicking here

FRAMELESS at MediaCity

The FRAMELESS team, including production partner Cinesite, the leading digital Hollywood visual effects company, known for their contributions to blockbuster films including the Harry Potter and the Marvel franchises, has worked closely with the expert curators at the National Portrait Gallery to tell the authentic, inspiring stories of some of its most loved sitters.

The new experience brings together a rich tapestry of media, from archival content and photography to excerpts from powerful speeches and original animation.

Ryan ‘Woody’ Atwood, Creative Director for FRAMELESS Creative, 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.

“Being able to delve deep into the life stories of the individuals and then bring them to life through the power of emotional, immersive storytelling has been a very special experience and we’re excited to share this with the public when we open in Manchester in May.”

Rab MacGibbon, the National Portrait Gallery

Rab MacGibbon, curator at the National Portrait Gallery, said: “This collection holds some of the most extraordinary people in history. With FRAMELESS, we’re now showing them in a completely new light — dynamic, emotional, and deeply human.”

Stories – Brought to Life is the first experience under National Portrait Gallery Unframed, a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at bringing art to wider, more diverse audiences through immersive technology.

Running until 31 August before heading on a nationwide tour, this is your chance to witness art like never before — not on walls, but all around you.

MediaCity, Salford: Opens Friday 2nd May, runs until Sunday 31sy August.

You can get tickets and more info by clicking here

Opening Hours:  

Monday to Thursday: 10am – 7pm (last entry slot 5.30pm)

Friday to Sunday: 10am – 8pm (last entry slot 6.30pm)