Stories Brought To Life | Frameless

Stories - Brought to Life brought the National Portrait Gallery collection into an immersive setting, created by Frameless

Developed as a new interpretation rather than an extension of the London Gallery, the experience sought to bring to life the stories behind a selection of the UK’s most recognisable sitters as a fully immersive Experience during its three month run in MediaCity. Greater Manchester.

In this innovative partnership, FRAMELESS, a leading creator of immersive experiences, drew on works in the National Portrait Gallery Collection to explore the lives of those who have shaped the history and culture of the UK, from the Tudor period to the present day.

Stories – Brought to Life was designed to push the boundaries of storytelling by combining the highest-quality digital projections, Hollywood-style visual effects and the latest audio technology with music and creative narratives to reveal the human tales behind some of the Gallery’s best-loved portraits.

Following the successful delivery of the flagship FRAMELESS London Immersive Art Experience, Creative Technology was again appointed as technical partner for this new Experience. The system was designed specifically for the temporary structure deployed for the MediaCity residency.

Frameless & CT’s Ongoing Partnership

The relationship between Creative Technology and FRAMELESS began during the concept and delivery of the London venue, where large-scale projection and media playback infrastructure were integrated into a permanent immersive environment.

That experience established a strong working dynamic and a clear understanding of what the project required, both creatively and technically.

Stories Brought to Life built on that foundation. Creative Technology was engaged from the early design stages to develop a system capable of delivering the same level of immersion in a different context, with a new narrative and content approach.

Images: ©David Parry

Stories – Brought to Life, immersive experience, MediaCity in Manchester, UK – 23 April 2025

Making a Permanent Installation Adaptable

The system was developed to respond to the specific requirements of the MediaCity installation, while maintaining consistency in performance and operation.

Inspired by the experience of entering the National Portrait Gallery in London, the creative team at FRAMELESS sought to replicate and expand upon the Gallery’s own layout, where each room contains a multitude of portraits of different sizes and styles.

The result was an environment in which animated elements sweep across the space, guiding the gaze around the entire room, while negative space also played a key role, allowing the eye to naturally complete each scene as it transitioned from one portrait to the next.

Creative Technology delivered a modular projection and audio package, with load-in, alignment and maintenance considered from the outset. Systems were preconfigured for deployment, with rigging and cable management planned to minimise footprint and reduce on-site complexity.

All components were selected with repeat use in mind. From media servers to structural elements, the system was built to maintain performance without introducing unnecessary complexity.

Building the Visual Environment

Stories Brought to Life reinterpreted the National Portrait Gallery collection as an immersive environment. Rather than viewing portraits at a distance, visitors were placed within them, surrounded by the context, people and moments they represent.

To achieve this, Creative Technology delivered a projection system capable of high-resolution coverage across a non-linear, sculptural space. Over 30 Panasonic 1-DLP laser projectors, supported by Quad Pixel Drive technology and paired with specialist lenses, enabled detailed imagery and precise mapping onto irregular surfaces.

Media playback was handled by an AV Stumpfl Pixera system, allowing content to be mapped accurately across the spatial layout and adapted to the geometry of the space.

Sound as a narrative tool

Audio played a central role in shaping the experience, combining original composition, sound design and voice to reflect themes of identity, influence and legacy.

The system was configured to suit the room layout while maintaining clarity and spatial definition. Compact Martin Audio loudspeakers were positioned to localise sound discreetly, with sub-bass reinforcement used to support key moments.

A timecoded control system kept audio and visual elements aligned, simplifying operation for technical teams. System stability was supported by Ubiquiti-based network and monitoring infrastructure, providing central oversight across the installation.

Supporting daily operation

The MediaCity installation introduced its own architectural and acoustic considerations. Creative Technology worked closely with FRAMELESS’ production and creative teams to ensure consistent projection quality, clarity and audio balance throughout the space.

Training and on-site support enabled the venue team to operate the system confidently, while centralised monitoring allowed for rapid response to any technical issues during the run.

FRAMELESS London is currently showing a pop-up edition of Stories – Brought to Life in its Blank Canvas Gallery, with entry now included with all tickets to the immersive art experience. The experience is open until 13^th August (and at FRAMELESS Lates until 12^th September). For tickets and more information visit frameless.com.

Image Credits:

©David Parry

Jane Austen

NPG 3630 Jane Austen by Cassandra Austen, c.1810

©National Portrait Gallery, London

Charles Darwin

NPG 1024 Charles Darwin by John Collier, 1883

Queen Elizabeth

INPG 2561 Queen Elizabeth I (‘The Ditchley portrait’) by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, c.1592

Ncuti Gatwa

NPG x203001 Ncuti Gatwa by Jonangelo Molinari, August 2022

Audrey Hepburn

NPG x40181 Audrey Hepburn by Cecil Beaton, Cecil Beaton Archive 1954

Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin

NPG 5797 Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin by Maggi Hambling, 1985

Mai

NPG 7153 Mai (Omai) by Sir Joshua Reynolds, c.1776 © National Portrait Gallery, London. Purchased jointly by the Board of Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery and the J. Paul Getty Trust, 2023. Support provided to NPG by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund and other generous supporters. With thanks to the J. Paul Getty Trust

Nelson Mandela

NPG x128760 Nelson Mandela by Jillian Edelstein, 6 February 1997

Emmeline Pankhurst

NPG x131784 Emmeline Pankhurst addressing a crowd in Trafalgar Square by Central Press, October 1908

Sir Grayson Perry

NPG 6998 A Map of Days, 2013

NPG x139888 Sir Grayson Perry by Richard Ansett, 2013

Commissioned for BBC Radio 4’s Reith Lectures 2013 by Anna Lenihan, BBC Pictures © BBCWith thanks to Sir Grayson Perry Studio / Victoria Miro Gallery

Mary Seacole

NPG 6856 Mary Seacole by Albert Charles Challen, 1869

William Shakespeare

NPG 1 William Shakespeare by John Taylor, c.1610

Amy Winehouse

NPG x131006 Amy Winehouse by Mischa Richter, 24 July 2006

Oscar Wilde

NPG P24 Oscar Wilde by Napoleon Sarony, 1882

Virginia Woolf

NPG P221 Virginia Woolf by George Charles Beresford, July 1902

Malala Yousafzai

NPG 7052 Malala Yousafzai by Shirin Neshat, 2018

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Stories Brought To Life | Frameless

Frameless & CT’s Ongoing Partnership

Making a Permanent Installation Adaptable

Building the Visual Environment

Supporting daily operation

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