Culture Guides
Destination Guides
Seasonal Guides
Song of the Female Textile Worker at Leeds Industrial Museum, Leeds and online, 12 February–31 August 2021 - Book now
The online exhibition Song of the Female Textile Workers combines traditional Chinese cultural performance with UK-China digital creativity.
The one-year project sees the creation of a one-actor performance, led by Wang Rousang, a Chinese national star performer of xiaosheng role (male cross-dressing) at Shanghai Yue Opera House.
Coinciding with Chinese New Year celebrations (12–27 February 2021), this online exhibition presents six exclusive documentary films which highlight similarities between the textile industries of the UK and China. The films tell the stories of industrial and cultural development in Shanghai by focusing on the stories of specific characters. The project explores fascinating and distinct links between China and the city of Leeds and Armley Mills, once the world’s largest woollen mill and now the home of Leeds Industrial Museum.
The exhibition prompts us to think about ways we can use our local heritage, both industrial and cultural, to seek connections between global cities and communities. Using Yue Opera, one of the most popular styles of opera in China, it explores the shared historical memories of textile industrial heydays across Shanghai and Leeds.
The project will be hosted online, with rehearsals and performances live-streamed between Shanghai Yue Opera House and Stage@LeedsDigital. The project is being made in collaboration with Shanghai Textile Museum, Leeds Industrial Museum, Stage@Leeds and Yorkshire-based digital companies Human VR and Dubit.
As well as delving into the industrial heritage and history of these two distinct cities, Song of the Female Textile Workers looks forward to examine new possibilities for digital connection and exchange between the UK and China.
Song of the Female Textile Workers is a newly awarded project by UK Research and Innovation in response to the Arts and Humanities Research Council call on UK-China Creative Partnerships. : Responding to the longer-term impacts of COVID-19.
Song of the Female Textile Worker at Leeds Industrial Museum, Leeds and online
12 February–31 August 2021
Related Guides
Walks in Leeds
A round-up of the best walks in Liverpool, including the city centre, its many parks, and over the water by Creative Tourist.
Cinemas in Leeds
From the latest art-house gems to the biggest blockbuster on the biggest screens, there’s a cinema to suit all needs in Leeds.
Attractions
There are plenty of attractions in Leeds. The city is home to numerous theatres, music venues and galleries as well as fantastic museums and several parks and green spaces that are a joy to explore all year round as many include a stately home. Once you scratch the surface of this northern destination there are plenty of places to see and explore.
Things to do in Leeds
Leeds prides itself on its rich cultural diversity and history, playing host to the decades-old West Indian carnival. The nightlife has an unmistakably northern vibe; whether you choose to have a chilled one in a boutique bar or dance till the morning. There’s plenty of things to do in Leeds.
Museums in Leeds
The famous, man-eating Leeds Tiger, a 3,000 year-old-mummy that survived WWII, the gothic ruins of a 12th century Cistercian monastery, and ‘the best cinema in the world’ are just some of the treasures waiting to be discovered as you work your way through this hand-picked selection of museums in Leeds.
