Rise: A guide to Bradford City of Culture 2025’s opening event

Temperatures dropped well below freezing overnight, with forecasters on Thursday predicting it could drop to -13C.

Friday is expected to be dry and even sunny for the day, but as the sun goes down temperatures are expected to drop to around -3C during the performance.

Ben Pugh, director of production for the event, said the dry weather meant the event was still likely to go ahead as planned.

Mr Pugh said he felt “everything is being thrown at us this week”.

“The snow is at levels we’ve not seen in the city centre of Bradford for a long, long time and then those freezing temperatures,” he said.

But rehearsals had remained on track.

He said the cast had been attending the run-throughs despite poor weather, showing “that great Bradford resilience”.

“The energy that’s coming off the stage will keep people buoyed and warm – that’s the thing we can’t stand in the way of,” he said.

Shanaz Gulzar, creative director at Bradford City of Culture, said: “Bradfordians are going to help be a part of what is the opening of 2025, our UK City of Culture.

“It’s that moment of seeing our story, ourselves and recognising that this is really our time.”

She added: “There’s a huge amount of talent here, a huge amount of creativity, and I think it’s poised, it’s ready.”

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