Les Girafes - Compagnie Off

Saturday 24 August 2024, 4–5pm

Bradford city centre (route TBA)

Free – no booking required

Join us for a spectacular safari in the heart of Bradford – a magical street performance led by seven towering red giraffes…

For one day only, we’re stopping the Bradford traffic to make way for some very special guests. Seven larger-than-life scarlet giraffes are travelling all the way from France to lead a free performance in our city centre – and they’d love you to come and say hello.

And that’s not all! Our long-necked friends will be joined on their wondrous walkabout by bumbling keepers, performers, musicians – and even an opera singer parading high above the streets.

Created by legendary French street theatre company Compagnie OFF, Les Girafes are visiting as part of our build-up to Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Everyone’s welcome at this family-friendly event – and admission is completely free.

Les Girafes is presented by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

Image: © Marc Jennings / upintheeire.ie

Find out more about Compagnie OFF at compagnieoff.org

Accessibility

Our team are making plans to ensure this outdoor performance is as accessible as possible for everyone who wants to watch or take part in it. Look out for more information soon about access and the performance route.

Join a family-friendly craft session

Free workshops for children 7+ inspired by Les Girafes

Get in the festival spirit and make a giraffe out of junk with the Bradford 2025 team, inspired by Les Girafes giant puppets.

These free workshops for families are suitable for children aged 7+ and are part of a programme of activity taking place in Bradford Libraries for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Marvellous Makers.

There are two sessions at every venue – a morning session from 10am-11.40am, and an afternoon session from 12.20pm to 2pm.

Tuesday 13 August – Allerton Library
@ Cafe West, Wanstead Crescent, Allerton BD15 7PA
Tuesday 13 August- Holme Wood Library
TFD Centre, Broadstone Way, Holme Wood BD4 9BU
Wednesday 14 August – Keighley Library
North Street, Keighley BD21 3SX
Wednesday 14 August – Eccleshill Library
Bolton Road, Eccleshill BD2 4SR
Thursday 15 August – Ilkley Library
Station Road, Ilkley LS29 8HA
Thursday 15 August – Laisterdyke Library
Manse Street, Laisterdyke BD3 8RP
Tuesday 20 August – Bingley Library
5 Rise Shopping Centre, Bingley BD16 1AW
Tuesday 20 August – Wibsey Library
North Road, Wibsey BD6 1TR
Wednesday 21 August – Manningham Library
Carlisle Road, Bradford BD8 8BB
Thursday 22 August – Shipley Library
2 Wellcroft, Shipley BD18 3QH

A procession of big, red giraffe puppets make their way along a crowded high street.

Two huge red giraffe puppets look to the sky as they are showered in red confetti

A street performer wearing a red dress and large white coat stands on top of a red platform, surrounded by red confetti.

Street performs in large red giraffe costumes make their way through a busy street at night time.

Take part

We’re looking for a limited number of people to take part in Les Girafes and help make this magical street performance happen. You could help to guide the main characters through the streets, move pieces of staging along the route, or support this fabulous outdoor performance in other ways.

Les Girafes – Compagnie OFF