Park set for spectacular series of theatre and art productions

Nigel Jamieson, who also directed the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2004, has conjured up an outdoor aerial theatre piece to be shown in City Park on October 5.

As The World Tipped combines dramatic film and visuals with breath-taking aerial performances. Suspended high above the audience in the night sky, performers will struggle to control an increasingly precarious world as they battle the effects of drastic environmental catastrophe.

The piece is among an array of entertainment planned for the city centre over the coming months.

City Park’s Mirror Pool will be transformed into an ever-changing artwork by Bradford-based international artistic duo, Shanaz Gulzar and Steve Manthorp, who will use video projection to create A Mirrored Pool of Thought from October 9 to 13.

Reflections on October 19 will feature live performance painting with percussion and spoken words by artist Mohammed Ali.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for employment, skills and culture, said: “City Park and our events programme continues to be incredibly successful in attracting hundreds of thousands of people into Bradford city centre which in turn supports the regeneration of the city centre.

“This season’s programme will be fantastic and there should be something here for everyone.

“I urge everyone to make the most of the opportunity and come down and enjoy the events. We will continue to work hard to support the district’s economic development.”

MUARÉ, described as “an airborne, rock spectacular” by British band Duchamp Pilot and Argentine aerial artists, Voalá, on November 16, will see the band play to 12 spinning acrobats suspended 100 feet in the air on a giant illuminated “Op-Art mobile”.

City Park will ring out to the calls of check mate at “Chesstival in the Park” on September 14.

Five grandmasters and international masters will battle 125 players in a simultaneous exhibition of intense logic and strategy. People will be able to play on giant chess sets, hone their skills or learn the basics of the ancient game.

On September 28 local people will celebrate everything great about the city at the Positive Bradford Day.