By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
The people of Bradford have been given a preview of the excitement to come during the city's year as the UK City of Culture in 2025. In anticipation of the year long celebration, several 26 foot tall giraffe puppets roamed the streets as part of the "Les Girafes" event, created by the French street theatre company Compagnie OFF. The towering puppets were spotted at various locations, including Ilkley's Cow and Calf Rocks and Manningham Library.
Shanaz Gulzar, creative director for Bradford 2025, expressed that the event was intended to build excitement for the upcoming year. "It's the lead up to the year of culture, and I want to give our audiences a sense of what's coming next year," she explained, hoping the giraffes would bring "a little bit of joy, a little bit of spectacle, and a little bit of fun" to people's lives.
Philippe Fresion, artistic director at Compagnie OFF, described the performance as a kind of "fairy tale in the parade," adding that it evokes a sense of wonder, making people feel as though they are in a dream.
Marjorie Hodgkinson, a volunteer for Bradford 2025, shared her enthusiasm, stating that events like "Les Girafes" are "exciting" for the city. "Bradford has been waiting for something like this for a long time, and now it has the potential to bring everyone together for some much needed fun," she said.
