parler femme

On Thursday 16 November 2023, parler femme, the latest dance production from Barnsley’s Tala Lee-Turton, was performed in the stunning setting of the Ironworks at Elsecar Heritage Centre.

It’s the first time that a professional dance production was staged at Elsecar Heritage Centre and the first time Tala performed with her production company in her hometown of Barnsley. The performance at the Ironworks was made  possible through the support of CDF, bringing new cultural experiences to the borough.

In addition to the production at Elsecar Heritage Centre, CDF also commissioned Tala Lee-Turton Productions to deliver a series of movement workshops for up to 20 intersectional girls of diverse heritage from Barnsley's 6 Principal Towns. 10 young people from these workshops were selected to perform in parler femme across the tour dates in 2023. 

Visit www.talaleeturton.com/parler-femme to view images and find out more about the production and the creative team behind parler femme.

parler femme is a dance-based triple bill celebrating innovative and inspiring stories about women. Experienced through live performance, screen and immersive technologies, the work is the latest from Barnsley-born, Bolshoi Ballet Academy alumna, Tala Lee-Turton. Through three acts, audiences will experience a compilation of award-winning short dance films, a duet between a ballet dancer and musician, and a contemporary ballet.  

Tala Lee-Turton said: “I’m honoured to be performing parler femme at Elsecar Heritage Centre in my home town of Barnsley. This production is very personal to me so it’s very special to be performing it in Barnsley. It has taken three years to create, bringing together the magic of live dance, screen-based storytelling, and immersive technology that tell a rich and varied array of stories by women.’

Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “It’s such a proud moment for us to have Tala perform in Barnsley. She is an inspiration, and it shows how far talent and dedication can take you.  After performing around the globe, she is returning to her hometown with an incredible performance that we hope will encourage a new generation of dancers to aim for the stars.  To have such an immersive experience take place in the historic setting of Elsecar will be a real treat.”