Little Amal will arrive in the city with a powerful message.
Embarking on an incredibly lengthy 5,000 mile journey from Syria, a giant puppet of a young girl is set to walk to Manchester as part of a huge art project, and it’s for a very touching cause.
Made by the Handspring Puppet Company, who previously worked on War Horse, Little Amal will travel across Europe in a bid to “rewrite the narrative” about refugees, embodying the important message “Don’t forget about us” as she pushes through her important journey.
Speaking of the project, Amir Nizar Zuabi, Artistic Director of The Walk said: “It is because the attention of the world is elsewhere right now that it is more important than ever to reignite the conversation about the refugee crisis and to change the narrative around it. Yes, refugees need food and blankets, but they also need dignity and a voice.
“The purpose of The Walk is to highlight the potential of the refugee, not just their dire circumstances. Little Amal is 3.5 metres tall because we want the world to grow big enough to greet her. We want her to inspire us to think big and to act bigger.”
The project will make up part of Manchester International Festival’s opening weekend, and it could be one of the most ambitious pieces of art showcased. Covering the Turkey-Syria border through to Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium – Amal will arrive in Manchester on November 3, 2021, with a free public event taking place in Manchester city centre for all to attend. The arrival has been delayed as a result of the pandemic, however, the start of Amal’s journey will be marked with a ceremony at this summer’s MIF.
Little Amal’s story began in Good Chance Theatre‘s award-winning play, The Jungle, where she opened as a character who represented the hundreds of unaccompanied minors in the Calais camp who were separated from their families. Now, after critical acclaim, Little Amal will be continuing to spread her message in support of young refugees.
[Featured image: Walk With Amal | Bevan Roos]