Little Amal: Giant refugee puppet sets foot in UK
The three-metre puppet is in the UK after walking thousands of miles across Europe
Last updated 19th Oct 2021
A huge puppet of a 9-year-old Syrian refugee girl arrived in the UK today (19th October), after travelling nearly 8,000 km across Europe.
Little Amal is 3.5 metres tall and operated by several puppeteers, and has been walking through Europe, mirroring the route of refugees escaping Syria.
She took her first steps this morning in Folkestone, Kent before travelling on to London.
There was a very famous face to greet her in the UK, Hollywood actor Jude Law was there to help introduce some local schoolchildren to Amal.
From London, Little Amal will visit:
- Dover (20th October)
- Canterbury (21st October)
- Lewisham (22nd October)
- London (22nd - 25th October)
- Oxford (26th October)
- Coventry (27th October)
- Birmingham (28th October)
- Sheffield (29th October)
- Barnsley (30th October)
She will finally end her journey in Manchester on 3rd November.
The puppet's goal is to shed light on the ongoing refugee crisis by embodying the urgent message "Don’t forget about us".
Little Amal fled her war-torn country and is in search of her mother, like countless other children, who also need to find their way into education and rebuild their lives.
Created by the Handspring Puppet Company, Little Amal represents all displaced children, many separated from their families.
Little Amal is part of The Walk project, a travelling street theatre of art and hope, in support of refugees, with artistic direction from Amir Nizar Zuabi.
The Walk is "a cultural odyssey transcending borders, politics and language to tell a new story of shared humanity", as described by the Good Chance theatre company.
Mr Zuabi explained: "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 idea of Little Amal’s journey came from The Jungle, a play about young refugees in a camp near Calais that opened at the Young Vic in London in 2017.
More photos of Little Amal in Folkestone:
Little Amal met locals and kids at Folkestone in Kent
Hollywood star Jude Law made an appearance in support of Little Amal's message
Jude Law encouraged local schoolchildren to introduce themselves to Little Amal and welcome her to their home
The puppeteers control Little Amal's every step and movement
A close up of Little Amal, where we can see one of the puppeteers controlling her
Little Amal is heading to London and will travel through England to end her journey in Manchester on Wednesday 3rd November