Johnny Vegas announces stand-up show to help save World of Glass in St Helens

Johnny Vegas is staging a stand-up comedy show in St Helens to raise money for the town’s World of Glass museum.

The comedian, actor and artist is planning to ask friends from the entertainment world to join him at the Theatre Royal on November 13 in a bid to help the visitor attraction which is fighting for survival.

He’s keeping tight-lipped about who it might be for now:

“I’m not going to pull a guilt trip on anyone, I’m just going to ask and hope that we get the right folk in,” he says.

“What I can say is that it will be a really good show, and a funny night.

“Every comic asks a comic have they got a free night, and can they do them a favour. So I’m going to reach out.

“We’re just in the process of putting a bill together and some household names do help to sell tickets…”

He adds:

“Amazingly, if we fill that theatre, I’ll bet two-thirds will never have been to World of Glass, but if they buy a ticket they might be a bit more tempted to come and have a look and see just how good the place is.”

Johnny, born and bred in St Helens, is a huge supporter of the town and the World of Glass which recently launched a £50,000 crowdfunding campaign to save it from closure.

Increasing costs have seen the museum struggle to make ends meet and, although it has applied for various grants and funding, it needs to raise the cash over the next few months or face having to shut its doors for good.

More than £20,000 has been donated so far.

“If I’m driving past here, I’ll come in for an hour. There’s always a new exhibition as well as everything else that’s on offer,” says Johnny.

Johnny Vegas (c) Channel 4 — Credit: Channel 4

World of Glass in Chalon Way is a landmark in the centre of town, telling the story of its history and heritage, right back to the origins of glass thousands of years ago.

You can watch live glass blowing demonstrations and see the original grade II listed tank house where William Windle Pilkington perfected the regenerative process and continuous glass making – a monumental change in the industry; and World of Glass houses one of the finest examples of a regenerative furnace in England.

It has a number of galleries, some with permanent exhibitions like the Glass Gallery with pieces from the Origins of Glass to Contemporary Glass, and the Past Gallery which takes you on a tour through Victorian St Helens to look at the lives of those who lived there.

The Godfrey Pilkington Gallery hosts regular changing art exhibitions.

“Years ago when I was an art student, I’d have been living in the main exhibition with a sketch book,” reveals Johnny. “But you don’t have to be an artist to come in here.

“This is for the likes of all of us, and all of this is based on what we built as a town, what we created as a town, and the skills people had.

“It is for the likes of us because it wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the likes of us.”

Johnny, who recently appeared in a Channel 4 documentary, Johnny Vegas: Art, ADHD & Me, and who produced a self-reflective art installation entitled Love Letter to St Helens which stands in the museum’s cone-shaped entrance, says World of Glass is important to the area and it’s crucial it doesn’t close.

“If you look at the town centre now, we’re going through a huge process of redefining ourselves, and it’s really important we don’t forget ourselves.

“We have got a lot of new infrastructure going in, which was needed, but this is a world class museum; it’s not at the a***-end of a terraced street, it’s not tucked away.

“It gives artists a chance to show what they do, it houses a collection of some of the world’s finest glass … and if none of that bothers you, it’s got a brilliant café,” he smiles.

Johnny at World of Glass — Credit: Channel 4

“Outside of rugby league, St Helens has just not developed the art of celebrating ourselves and it’s time we did.

“Our achievements are monumental.

“The industrial side has gone – but the memory of it should never be lost.

“People used to ask how can a lad from Thatto Heath go away and study art? How can anyone from St Helens dare to think they can venture out of the town limits and impress the world … but we always did that.

“And we should be attracting everyone from outside to come and look at what we’ve done.

“It’s history, it’s heritage, and World of Glass is necessary. It can’t be allowed to close.”