As part of the University of Leeds project ‘Yorkshire Year of Textiles’, we were delighted to have supported the performance of ‘Thread’ which showcases the textile production through a contemporary expression of dance, light and music.

Created by South Asian Arts UK (SAA-UK) and funded by the Arts Council England, the artists involved were meticulous in their approach to fully understand how a production mill affects all senses.

Alex DeLittle, the sound artist behind the performance, visited our mill to understand the fragments of sound around textile production. He recorded the machinery throughout the mill and used the sounds to provide the rhythmic undercurrent for the performance, with our looms providing the powerful percussion in the final movements.

Their visit to our mill in Pudsey helped them appreciate the multiple stages involved in the production, and allowed them to create the interpretive dance that mirrored the journey of the fleece.

The making of ‘Thread’ is available by clicking here or alternatively the inspirational performance at the Clothworkers Court, University of Leeds is available by clicking here.