Review
Review
Review: Portraits brought to life by FRAMELESS
From Queen Elizabeth I to David Bowie and beyond, experience the cultural shapers of UK history like never before with FRAMELESS, Manchester
They say a picture says a thousand words but what if you could actually experience it – the combination of a portrait and the subject’s words? At National Portrait Gallery Unframed: Stories – Brought To Life (for a limited time only) you can do just that, with an array of important figures – both historical and contemporary – whose stories have shaped our zeitgeist in the UK. This collaboration between FRAMELESS and the National Portrait Gallery allows visitors to delve deeper into the nation’s favourite portraits, spanning from Mary Seacole and Malala Yousafzai to both Queen Elizabeths and our current Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa. Here’s what to expect at National Portrait Gallery Unframed: Stories – Brought To Life.
Location, location, location
National Portrait Gallery Unframed: Stories – Brought To Life is located in the heart of MediaCity, Salford Quays in Manchester. Nestled among the canal and BBC and ITV landmarks, such as the nostalgic Blue Peter garden and the Coronation Street backlot sets, you’ll be able to find the venue with ease – just a short walk away from the tram stop.
A three-act story
After greeting the very friendly staff at the entrance, the immersive art experience is split into three parts; Introduction, Immersion and Reflection.
The introduction that takes you through the importance of acknowledging the breadth of UK history and culture, and the ethos behind this special art experience. You’re guided through to a room where you can see each portrait in its static form, with a short biography under each one. The cultural figures include Oscar Wilde, Emmeline Pankhurst, Nelson Mandela, Amy Winehouse, William Shakespeare, Virginia Woolf, Audrey Hepburn, Winston Churchill and more. There is also an accessibility option for those who may need it, to have an audio guide to read through the introductory texts, or to request a BSL interpreter.
From there, you’re guided into the immersive part of the exhibition, where the personal stories of each of the figures accompany an audiovisual presentation of each portrait. Expect sweeping scores to soundtrack the narration of each story, along with bespoke animations across HD LED screens and even overhead projections. Some of the narrations are performed by actors taking on the big roles – Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare – while others are narrated by the cultural figures themselves – Malala Yousafzai and Ncuti Gatwa. My personal favourite was Mai, the first Pacific Islander to visit the UK, and whose history I had never known until visiting Stories – Brought To Life. His journey is beautifully narrated and animated across the FRAMELESS screens, visually exploring his voyage and his return to Raʻiātea.
Finally, you enter the Reflection room, with more information about each portrait and a glass art installation inviting visitors to reflect on each story, and how their own story weaves into the cultural fabric of Britain.
Keepsakes
After taking in the immersive portraits and reflecting on your role in British history, perhaps you’d like to take a piece of FRAMELESS and the National Portrait Gallery home with you? Well, at the Stories – Brought To Life gift shop, you can buy all sorts of souvenirs to commemorate your trip: Shakespeare and Suffragette finger puppets, David Bowie socks, artisanal coasters, books and more. A truly holistic experience.
Head to Manchester’s MediaCity for National Portrait Gallery Unframed: Stories – Brought To Life, showing from 2 May – 31 August 2025, before it heads on a national tour.
Find tickets to National Portrait Gallery Unframed: Stories – Brought To Life here
