THE “wonderful world of words” was celebrated as visitors from far and wide flocked to the first weekend of the second Bradford Literature Festival.

The gathering is bringing together around 350 special guests including authors, poets, artists, and filmmakers from all over the world for 200 events at venues in the heart of the city.

Those attending the festival praised the diversity of the events on offer, ranging from free activities for children in City Park such as the live Peter Pan theatre show, to a debate examining the relationship between architecture and places of worship in the 21st century.

Superheroes were the order of the day in City Park, with the Q20 Theatre group providing fun for all the family with their dramatic and interactive performances.

In the Justin Credible Supershow, the title character pitted himself in a death-defying struggle between good and evil against the devious and dastardly Bjorn T’Cheat.

Scott Vipond-Clarke, who played the villain of the piece, said of the festival: “It’s been absolutely brilliant.

“The crowds have been here and the workshops have been buzzing all day long.

“The shows have had great audiences, and the sun finally came out, which just made the day wonderful.

“This is just the start of around 200 events, and it’s brilliant for Bradford and so much bigger than it was last year, the organisers have done an amazing job.

“Everyone is getting involved and really enjoying it, and where we are in City Park, outside City Hall, is a great venue.

“The festival really does provide something for everyone.

“There is everything from poetry, to classic Shakespeare, to comics, anything written down is being celebrated and made available to people.

“If people get the chance to experience something they never have before, or learn something new and develop a new passion, then that’s fantastic.”

Other highlights of the opening weekend included performances of Manga Shakespeare, a Comix Creatrix workshop on the role of women in comics, poetry readings, and various storytelling sessions.

Syima Aslam, one of the festival directors, said the aim was to provide a “myriad of irresistable literary and cultural encounters”, with something to cater for all tastes.

“It’s been a great opening weekend, really fantastic,” she said.

“We’ve had such positive audiences and feedback, which is heartening for us in our second year.

“The programme has grown and is much stronger, and that is reflected in what the audiences are saying.

“People have travelled from far and wide, and it is great to see them spending time in the city.

“Bradford people have also been really appreciative, I have had people coming up to me to say how much they are enjoying the festival.

“When things get difficult, hearing that is the incentive for us to keep going, so it’s wonderful.

“It is a joy, and a privilege, to curate events that bring guests from around the world to Bradford and showcase its heritage and landscape.”

The festival runs until Sunday, with highlights this week including a telling of the story of the Battle of the Somme and the Bradford Pals at City Hall on Tuesday night, and a twilight tour of Undercliffe Victorian Cemetery on Wednesday night.

Next weekend’s closing events include a ‘Rough Introduction to The Brontes’, Beatrix Potter theatre shows, and the launch of a national poetry competition.