Graeme Ogston continues his tour of Dundee’s City of Culture rivals, turning his attention to Leicester.
Leicester’s team are making a “big play” that their bid is not all about high culture, according to the Leicester Mercury’s Dan Martin.
“They don’t want it to be opera or too much dancing about on stages,” he said. “They want it to be about participation, like a Richard III play and things that are accessible to everyone.
“There are lots of elements about the long-term aspect to it and bringing people together.”
Dan said Leicester bidding for the title was no surprise, especially after the recent discovery of Richard III’s bones in a local car park.
He said: “That is certainly going to be a massive plank in what we’re doing. But I am told we would have bid for it, even if it hadn’t turned out to be him.
“I don’t think it was a surprise we got shortlisted. We are the biggest city and have the most people here.See Saturday’s Courier as Graeme’s cultural tour finishes in Hull.“Most people here are very proud of the multi-cultural element of things and that we have a lot to offer.”
Like Dundee, Leicester’s bid team are not giving much away. However, the bid is expected to focus on the city’s cultural diversity as well as food and fashion.
Dan said: “They haven’t really shown us much of the bid, with the thinking that everybody else will nick our good ideas.
“What little we do know of the proposed events, is a mass-participation drama.”
Dan said the city had not focused on its competitors in any great detail until now.
“The bidding team are now furiously trying to find out about the other places. Nobody wants to be unkind about anyone else, but in Leicester they are taking it quite seriously.
“Having looked at some of the other places, there’s nothing wrong them, but I think people here thought Leicester had more to offer.
“There’s a lot going on here. It’s not a fashionable city, I don’t think anyone would argue with that, but there is a lot going on that doesn’t get shouted about.”