Festival 2023 to animate Bradford’s City Centre this Summer.

The free annual event will be spread across three locations in Bradford city centre over the weekend of Friday 28 and Saturday 29 July and is a perfect start to the school summer holidays.

BD: Festival features uplifting dance, playful street theatre, live music, immersive art installations, interactive exhibitions and spectacular circus performances, there’s something for families and children of all ages.
BD: Festival, produced by Bradford Council, showcases a diverse line-up of artists that features creatives from across the UK and Europe, as well performances from 14 local organisations and artists. The festival will provide welcoming spaces for all, suitable for families and children of all ages as the district works towards its year as UK City of Culture 2025.

Highlights of the two-day extravaganza include the world premiere of Cricket Green by Bradford’s very own Balbir Singh Dance Company. Prepare to be bowled over by this awe-inspiring live show of music, theatre, and dance that blends classical Indian and contemporary western dance styles to narrate the story of Team Earth vs Team Climate, in a surreal game of cricket.

Unlimited Theatre and Upswing will present Ancient Futures – an Afrofuturism inspired outdoor spectacular commission, that blends circus and storytelling with Sound System culture and West African folklore.

BD: Festival will have a strong Bradford presence across the weekend, with the likes of Mind the Gap – England’s leading learning disability performance and live arts company – performing Birdie, an intricate performance, that tells the powerful story of climate change. Plus, Car Stories, an interactive research piece by Dr Alam, from the University of Bradford’s School of Social Sciences, which explores issues such as class, identity and race, and how they relate to a shared cultural narrative through the district’s shared love of cars.

An Edible Archives pop-up studio will be set in Kirkgate Market, where audience members can enjoy the multi-sensory experience, Eating Kirkgate Market, which will shine a light on the market’s unique murals and 70s architecture that’s brought to life through ice cream and sound.
Councillor Ferriby, Bradford Council’s, Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “BD: Festival is a great example of our ambitions, our energy and our dedication to bringing world-class cultural experiences to the people of Bradford district and beyond, whilst also showing the world who we are and what we can do.

Families from every corner of the district and beyond had a great time at last year’s colourful BD: Festival and we look forward to once again welcoming everyone to the city centre to enjoy this two-day event.”

For more information, go to www.visitbradford.com/bdfestival Sign up to the Facebook event for regular updates: https://fb.me/e/1eX0RzdmV or follow the Bradford Council culture team across on social media:

Facebook: @BDCu1ture / Instagram: @BDCulture_ / Twitter: @BDCulture_

Further performances will be announced in the coming weeks.