Bradford shines a light on an unforgettable year as UK City of Culture
It has been a pretty amazing 12 months in the spotlight for Bradford as the UK’s City of Culture 2025, with the creative team delivering an exceptional programme packed with many unforgettable cultural highlights, and the year will culminate with a hugely ambitious closing event this weekend.
Brighter Still, which takes place in Myrtle Park, Bingley on Saturday and Sunday will showcase the city’s people, stories and culture in a powerful celebration of community, creativity and togetherness. It is one of the largest community participation events in the whole programme featuring more than 250 local performers of all ages – from children aged 8 to older residents in their 70s. Nine professional dancers and musicians will be joined by locally based dance groups including young people from Stage 84, Freestyle Fanatics and X-Plosion, a bhangra group from women’s fitness club Club Ekta and members of Luvabulls, the Bradford Bulls cheerleading squad. A diverse mix of music and dance styles will be featured including bhangra, bassline, gospel choirs and folk songs, alongside poetry – and BMX riders.
Director Emily Lim was approached two years ago by Bradford 2025 creative director Shanaz Gulzar and executive producer Jenny Harris when they were starting to think about ideas for an event to round off the year. “They were really clear that they didn’t want it to feel like an ending but rather a jumping off point to the future,” says Lim. “And they wanted it to involve lots of people from the city district and to have a strong presence of young people. They knew my work and that my main interest is in theatre for community building.”
Lim, who as an associate artist at the National Theatre established and led the nationwide Public Acts community programme, has previously worked on several large-scale open-air productions, often in collaboration with choreographer Dan Canham, who is co-director on Brighter Still. “We were invited to create a celebratory event that would allow people to express pride about what had happened over the year but that would also be looking forward, full of hope and optimism.”
Our Lifestyle newsletter is a great weekend read
Lim and Cranham began thinking about the kind of community gatherings that take place at this time of year, which led to the idea of marking the winter solstice. “We wanted the piece to be really inclusive and for people to see themselves reflected in it so we were searching for something harmonizing," says Lim. "The event will be taking place on the two longest nights of the year and the story is around how as a community we experience those moments when we are turning towards the light coming back.” It is also a human experience that is universal, so as a theme it connects performers and audience to a greater, global sense of humanity and belonging.
Working on a project of this scale has its challenges in terms of logistics but Lim has been delighted with the level of enthusiasm and support that the project has received from local people. “When we did the open call we had a wonderful response,” she says. “We could really have had even more people involved. We did workshops across the district and contacted community choirs and dance groups. I have been struck by how the company has pulled together, they have been absolutely incredible – they have been so focused, worked so hard and have been so generous with each other and with us. Many of the people involved have never done anything like this before in their lives.”
Lim and Canham have also been working with a fire specialist. “Fire is such a convening force that warms us and is a symbol of light and regeneration,” says Lim. “The weather can be unpredictable at this time of year too but we lean into that and we want people to feel exhilarated by that. It is also about resilience, as a community celebrating the good times but also resisting the bad times.”
As well as performing movement and dance, the community cast will play an active role in narrating the show, presenting a weaving together of stories rooted in the experience of the people and communities of Bradford. “We want the event to be inspiring and show what is possible when people come together to create something that is hugely fortifying and optimistic," says Lim. "We hope it will be a welcoming, inclusive and memorable moment at the end of an incredible year.”
Brighter Still takes place at Myrtle Park, Bingley, BD16 at 4pm on December 20 and 21. Tickets, £2, free for under-16s, over-60s and Youth Pass members, must be booked in advance via bradford2025.co.uk/event/brighter-still/