Paul O'Grady exhibition: All you need to know
It is less than a month until the launch of a major exhibition that will delve into the life and legacy of Birkenhead’s own Paul O’Grady.
You Gotta Get A Gimmick: The Paul O'Grady Story opens at the Williamson Art Gallery on Friday 11 December. It will offer an unprecedented glimpse into the private archive of one of Wirral’s most celebrated sons from in front and behind the camera.
Born and raised in Birkenhead, Paul went on to become a household name, a LGBTQIA+ icon and a passionate animal welfare advocate. He was cherished by millions of people and The Paul O’Grady Story is expected to be highly popular.
Ahead of the exhibition opening, here is all the information you need to know.
What will be on display?
The exhibition brings together a unique selection of items from Paul O'Grady's archive. They include his iconic wardrobe, featuring original Lily Savage and pantomime costumes.
From Paul’s media career, there will be rare footage, scripts, photography and oral histories documenting LGBTQIA+ activism and working-class life and entertainment.
Those who attend will also get an intimate look at Paul’s personal eclectic collection of objects, figurines and puppets, revealing the influences that shaped his creative psyche.
Will there be any other works?
Yes. Seven local artists have had work commissioned to create new portraits of Lily Savage and Paul’s cherished dog Buster, as well as canine ceramic figurines.
There will also be work created by young people from the Wirral Hive Youth Zone on display.
Who has created the exhibition?
Andre Portasio, Paul’s widower, is the Creative Director of the exhibition, while his former agent Joan Marshrons is a Creative Consultant.
The Paul O’Grady Story has been supported by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England. The exhibition is commissioned by Wirral Council, Switchflicker and DuoVision.
I’m incredibly excited for people to see what we have created for this exhibition.
We wanted to bring Paul’s story home to Birkenhead and celebrate not only his extraordinary career, but the person behind it — his passions, his influences, his humour and the things that mattered most to him.
The exhibition brings together costumes, personal objects and memories from throughout his life, many of which have never been seen publicly before. I’m especially delighted that it will be free, so that everyone who loved Paul, from Birkenhead and across the UK and beyond, can come and share in his story.
What date does the exhibition run to?
The exhibition will be in the Williamson for a year, finishing on Friday 31 December 2027.
Do I need tickets?
No – but it is highly recommended. You can attend without pre-booking but your tickets booked in advance guarantee your preferred entry time. They can be booked here.
Several time slots for the opening weekend of the exhibition are either fully booked or have limited availability.
Tickets up to 31st March can be reserved, with further dates to be made available in due course.
How much is the entry fee?
The exhibition is free but donations to Williamson Art Gallery are warmly welcomed. They help the Williamson take care of collections and continue its exhibition programme for everyone to enjoy.
How do I get to the Williamson?
The address is Slatey Road, Birkenhead, CH43 4UE. Car parking is free via Mather Road. The car park can be very busy during events and please be considerate of our neighbours when parking.
The nearest train station is Birkenhead Central and there are bus stops on Borough Road, Slatey Road and Balls Road. For all public transport options check the Merseytravel Journey Planner.
