Bradford Opera Festival comes roaring back in 2025 with three brand new works across live and digital platforms. Making opera for Bradford in a uniquely Bradford way, BOF uncovers Yorkshire history, poses hard questions about our future, and creates innovative cultural fusions in Yorkshire’s own dialect and languages.
The centrepiece of the festival is a world premiere of ‘The Last Machine Breaker’ composed by Ben Crick and written by Kamal Kaan. This live digital hybrid piece parallels the story of the Luddite revolt to the AI revolution now. The same two singers perform as George Mellor and his lover Mary on screen, and as AI humanoid, Adam, and his inventor Eva, live on stage. With echoes of Frankenstein, ‘The Last Machine Breaker’ asks whether we can harness the power of AI for the greater good. Or will our invention destroy us?
‘The Last Machine Breaker’ will premiere at Mind the Gap theatre in the heart of Industrial Bradford, on 10 and 11 November, before travelling to Skipton Town Hall on 12th, Slung Low in Holbeck, Leeds, on 15th, before finishing at Marsden Mechanics Hall on 16th November. Marsden Mechanics is the actual building where the Enoch hammers were forged, which were used by the Luddites to break the weaving machines.
Get your tickets:
Mind the Gap: 10 and 11 November
Skipton Town Hall: 12 November
Slung Low: 15 November
Marsden Mechanics Hall: 16 November
On 11th November, BOF will be hosting a mini-symposium on ‘Art, Access & AI’ for artists, technologists and researchers to explore the question of AI impact on arts and artists and what our response should be. It will have contributions from Simon Startin, ACE funded research into AI, performance and access, and Tom Higham of Mediale. Also in attendance will be members of The Fence, an international network of playwrights and producers, bringing a broader perspective to the debate, and connecting with local artists and producers.
Alongside ‘The Last Machine Breaker’ BOF25 will feature two new ‘pop up operas’ showcasing local Bradford talent and stories. ‘Nikkah’ by Kauser Mukhtar and Phillipa Jennings will blend Punjabi folk music and classical Western tradition, telling a story of a woman trying to pick her way through the demands of her heart and society. Performed in English and Punjabi, it will be performed at:
16th November – 2.00 pm at Darley St Market
17th November, 11.30 am Highfield Community Centre, Keighley
18th November, 10.20 am Belle Vue Girls Academy
20th November, 11.00 am at Women Zone
‘Sujood’ is a new piece by poet and digital creative Asma Elbadawi, with music by Christella Litras and filmed by Pishdaad Modaressi. This innovative and immersive piece blending poetry, film and music will be shared on our website as part of the Festival in November.
BOF is also looking for the talent of the future, working on local Bradford schools with ‘Chota Opera’, our popular programme where school children get to create their own work through storytelling, music and performance.