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Theatre audiences surge in City of Culture year

Adam Laver
BBC News, Yorkshire
Hana Kelly/BBC Exterior of Bradford's Alhambra Theatre. A grey and white stone building, with several cupolas and columns supporting them, with a glass block to the right, topped with a green sign saying "Wicked" under a cloudy sky.Hana Kelly/BBC
Alhambra audiences have recently enjoyed four of the biggest touring musicals, including Wicked and Hamilton

Bradford's two main theatres have seen a surge in visitors during the UK City of Culture 2025 celebrations, according to the council.

The Alhambra Theatre and St George's Hall, both managed by the authority, had each seen a rise in the number of people attending performances, a Bradford Council spokesperson said.

About 340,000 visitors headed to the Alhambra in 2024-25, up from 248,000 in 2023-24, while numbers at St George's Hall were up from 84,000 to 86,000 in the same period.

Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for healthy people and places, said: "We are delighted to see so many people enjoying Bradford's incredible cultural offer."

"The spotlight is on the city and district during this special year, and we are exceeding expectations," she added.

Google A grand stone building with a central tower, with a path and greenery in the foreground and a tree to the right-hand sideGoogle
Visitor numbers at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery were up by over 33% in the first half of this year, Bradford Council said

The latest figures also revealed that the four museums and galleries managed by Bradford Council saw a 12% increase in visits during the first six months of this year.

In total, there were 97,368 visits to Bradford Industrial Museum, Bolling Hall Museum, Cartwright Hall Art Gallery and Cliffe Castle Museum and Park between January and June this year, compared to 86,992 in the same period last year.

Visits to the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery were up by more than a third, from 23,603 to 31,447 during the same period, according to the authority.

Ferriby said: "The impressive growth is testament to the diverse and vibrant cultural offering during Bradford's year as the designated UK City of Culture."

Bradford being chosen for the prestigious title had played a "pivotal role" in attracting both local and international visitors to the city who were "eager to explore the rich heritage and diverse exhibitions", she said.

"Bradford's theatres, museums and galleries will all be building on this momentum with more impressive listings designed to engage and inspire audiences, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to make culture accessible to all."

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