TURNERS FALLS — For one night, the village may feel like the center of the world as perspectives from three continents entwine during a youth performance at the Shea Theater Arts Center.

“Mother Tongue,” a multilingual, multimedia performance that draws from African and Central Asian folk perspectives, will show for one night only on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Presented by the Performance Project, a Springfield-based multi-generational arts organization that last came to Turners Falls in 2015, the 90-minute original work will feature seven youth artists from various cultural backgrounds.

“I always wanted to have them back,” said Suzanne LoManto, director of partner organization RiverCulture. “The ensemble is tremendously talented and I would say their perspective is different from anything in Franklin County.”

According to an event announcement, Mother Tongue is “inspired by family stories and events” from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Bhutan, Nepal, South Sudan, Holyoke and Springfield. The performance incorporates movement, music and dance while weaving together stories in Arabic, Swahili, Nepali and English. Culture, identity, diaspora, masculinity, xenophobia, racism and revolution are among topics that will be addressed on stage.

“Historically, we at the Performance Project feel that Black and brown voices and many other voices from different communities and walks of life have not been represented, had the chance to represent themselves or have been misrepresented,” said Julie Lichtenberg, co-director of the Performance Project. “Beyond that, rarely do young people have the chance to share their experiences and their family experiences in a way that really connects their stories through the larger stories that we live within.”

Youths who participate in the Performance Project’s First Generation ensemble may be the first in their family to grow up in the United States, speak English, graduate high school, go to college, be openly LGBTQ, be an activist or be a feminist, among other firsts.

“In First Generation, we talk about the complexity of embracing individuality while honoring one’s family and community cultures,” the webpage reads. “The ensemble creates powerful, high-quality performances that engage the public in dialogue about social, cultural and generational issues.”

Lichtenberg said while it is “absolutely vital that people hear these stories” regardless of what their own life experiences have been, the prospect of being somewhere like Turners Falls has her “excited.” Typically, the Performance Project and First Generation perform for culturally diverse audiences that resonate with the show due to the ensemble sharing similar perspectives to what they have lived themselves, she explained. In Turners Falls, while there may be some in the crowd who identify with what is presented on stage, many others may also be exposed to foreign aspects of culture for the first time.

“Our work is all about making human connections,” Lichtenberg emphasized.

Mother Tongue is recommended for audience members ages 13 and older. Tickets cost $15 to $25 on a sliding scale, but nobody will be turned away. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/3GlH1ep.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.

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