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Original Madame Tussauds waxworks open new Beatles Exhibition at the National Museum, Prague
The National Museum in Prague, in collaboration with Liverpool’s Beatles Story, will host a special Beatles Exhibition entitled ‘BEATLEMANIA‘, from June 2010 until January 2011. Whilst in Prague, the Beatles Story will continue its major tourism campaign, aiming to establish Liverpool as a UK tourism hotspot. 
The National Museum’s exhibition will recognise the influence John Lennon and The Beatles had on the Czech nation and its youth culture. Even under communist rule, the group had a major effect on young people as they enthusiastically listened to the Fab Four on the radio, illegally exchanged Beatles recordings and imitated the group’s hairstyles and clothes. The Fab Four never actually visited Prague, but this month the Beatles Story will take some of The Beatles’ most treasured memorabilia to be displayed in the Czech capital.
As part of their involvement, the Beatles Story will be loaning Prague’s National Museum the original Beatles waxworks along with George Harrison’s gold plated Dallas ‘E’ banjolele. The banjolele (which has the body of a banjo with the neck of a ukulele) was thought to have once been owned by George Formby. Harrison, who was a huge fan of Formby, bought and played the instrument.
The Beatles, in particular John Lennon’s 1968 penned song Revolution, became the underground symbol of Prague’s youth culture in their pacifistic revolt that brought down the Communist state. After his murder in 1980, John Lennon became a world icon, representing freedom, peace and rebellion against the mainstream culture. Young people in Prague spontaneously established a memorial right after Lennon’s death. The history of the ‘Lennon Wall’ and the Lennon cult related to it was connected to persecutions by the totalitarian Czech regime.
The National Museum’s exhibition explores the impact of The Beatles on Czech music history and the role they played in creating new lifestyles and opinions. The exhibition draws from the audio and music archives of the Czech Museum of Music and from private loans such as home-made Beatlemania items),
The Beatles Story, the world’s leading permanent Beatles-themed visitor attraction is working with VisitBritain to encourage more tourists from the Czech Republic to visit Liverpool. Three airlines now fly direct from Prague to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport or to Manchester. In 2008 over 430, 000 Czechs visited the UK, spending in excess of 120million Euros. Only a small proportion of them visited Merseyside.
Jerry Goldman, Managing Director of the Beatles Story said: “We are delighted to be working with the National Museum in Prague and this is an ideal opportunity for the Beatles Story to promote Liverpool to a nation of Beatles fans. As well as providing the Museum with memorabilia we are encouraging Czechs to visit Liverpool for an exciting cultural city break. With our forthcoming John Lennon Tribute Season opening in October, we are determined that foreign visitors are aware of what the City of Liverpool has to offer and how accessible we are.’
The Beatles Story is currently undertaking a significant tourism drive in the affluent USA and Australian markets as well as in India. The potential for Liverpool is immense, with almost 400, 000 Indians, 900, 000 Australians and over 3.5 million Americans visiting the UK each year, Liverpool welcomes less than two per cent of these visitors; a statistic that the Beatles Story’s Managing Director is planning to change.
Jerry Goldman claims: “If over five million tourists decide to visit the UK each year from these countries, surely it can’t be that difficult to persuade a reasonable proportion of them to make the trip to Liverpool. Liverpool has its own airport and it is a city of culture, we just need to tell people about it and ensure that tour operators and travel agents include Liverpool as part of their UK offering.!’
Media enquiries: Rowan Atkins M: 07834 158 725 E: rowan@rowanatkins.co.uk or Claire Pickles M: 07958 998088 E: Claire@smudgepr.co.uk
The Beatles Story www.beatlesstory.com
The Beatles Story is a unique attraction that transports visitors on an enlightening and atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture and music of the Beatles.
The Beatles Story is located on Liverpool’s historic Albert Dock. The attraction opened in 1990 and has welcomed 3 million visitors from all around the world.
The experience is accompanied by the ‘Living History’ audio guide which is narrated by John Lennon’s sister, Julia. The Beatles Story offers English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Japanese and Chinese audio guide translations.
The Beatles Story is owned by Merseytravel, the combined Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) and Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) for Merseyside.
Merseytravel co-ordinates public transport across the five Merseyside districts of Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral and also owns and operates the famous Mersey Ferries and the Mersey Tunnels.
Tickets to the Beatles Story: Adult £12.95; Concession £8.50; Child £6.50 Aged 5-16 years; Under 5yrs Free
The attraction is open 7 days a week, all year round (excl 25/26 Dec). Opening hours: 9am – 7pm
T: 0151 709 1963 The Beatles Story, Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AD
