Ex-warehouse transformed into city's new art space

Once home to pallets of ladies' hosiery and men's coats, a former city centre superstore's warehouse has been transformed into a pop-up arts space for Bradford's year of culture celebrations.

The Bradford Council-owned Loading Bay is due to open later on the site of what was a Marks and Spencer store.

An exhibition of portraits created as a part of a BBC TV series hosted by comedian Bill Bailey is one of the first events to be held there as part of a programme running through 2025.

Meanwhile, Victor Wedderburn, whose Bradford-based photographic work dating back to the 1970s will also be on display at The Loading Bay, said he was "overwhelmed" his pictures would be on show in his home city.

"I'm pleased and I'm happy and I can't wait to see the exhibition myself," he said.

Mr Wedderburn, whose Frontline 1984/1985 show runs at The Loading Bay from 18 April to 11 May, said he first started taking photographs in about 1973, mainly at a cafe and pub in Manningham known colloquially as 'the Frontline'.

"This was mainly people from the Caribbean, not just Jamaica but also English people as well, and people from the Asian community," he explained.

"The photographs are even more important now because all that area has gone," Mr Wedderburn, a retired mental health nurse, said.

"The pub is a chemist, the cafe sells fruit and veg. It's completely different when you look at it now."

The Bradford and Cardiff-based Common/Wealth theatre group is also expected to put on a play called Public Interest at The Loading Bay between 21-31 May.

Evie Manning, 40, the group's co-artistic director, said the play would focus on the criminal justice system and was based on work with young people in Bradford.

"We've worked in about 20 youth centres to find the cast and to also bring in lots of other young people who will be engaged in the themes of the show," she said.

Ms Manning said the Common/Wealth group's work in the city had a strong emphasis on people from working class backgrounds.

"Common/Wealth is all about working class people, their stories, the audiences. We want working class audiences," she said.

Comedy is also on its way to The Loading Bay, with Bradford funnyman Alex Dunlop, 30, set to host a series of shows there, starting on Friday with a showcase of local talent.

"Bradford doesn't have a full-time, seven-days-a-week comedy club. It doesn't have many comedy nights in general," Mr Dunlop said.

"Obviously we've got The Alhambra and St George's Hall and big comedians coming over. But an actual comedy club doesn't exist."

Mr Dunlop said he had high hopes for future of the comedy nights.

"Could it eventually become a weekly thing? Can we expand the comedy scene in Bradford?" he asked.

"I do have to go to Leeds and Manchester too much. I think it would be nice to perform to my home city."

Other planned events at The Loading Bay include cabaret from RuPaul's Drag Race winner Ginger Johnson and a show featuring true-life stories from young people.

The venue will also host the world premiere of theatre production Elmet in October, described as an "epic northern noir set in the wilds of the West Riding".

With so much due to happen at The Loading Bay during the city's culture celebrations, Daniel Bates, executive director of Bradford 2025, said the new venue - expected to eventually be run as a permanent arts space - was particularly welcome.

"Bradford has many excellent performance venues and galleries, and we're excited to add to the creative landscape by repurposing a derelict warehouse in the city as a pop-up arts space," he said.

"UK City of Culture offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to create lasting change in Bradford, through significant investment in the district's cultural infrastructure."

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