MIF21: The Walk
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
From the Turkish-Syrian border all the way to Manchester, The Walk looks to be one of the most inventive and adventurous public artworks ever attempted.
Manchester International Festival have announced their first event for the 2021 festival, which runs from 1 July to 18 July. The Walk is a vibrant and extraordinary travelling artwork that will reach its powerful conclusion in Manchester during the first weekend of MIF21.
One of the most inventive and adventurous public artworks ever attempted.
At the heart of the event is Little Amal, a giant walking artwork of a nine-year-old refugee girl. The 3.5 metre puppet will set out on her journey to the UK from the Syria-Turkey border at the start of April before reaching Manchester on 4 July – a city that has long embraced diversity and offered a proud home to many communities of refugees and migrants.
The Walk is the result of an exciting collaboration between theatre company Good Chance – makers of critically acclaimed The Jungle (which premiered at the Young Vic, London, 2017) – and Handspring Puppet Company – the acclaimed creators of War Horse. Travelling 8,000km across Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the UK in search of her mother, Little Amal stands as a symbol of the millions of displaced refugee children separated from their families.
Bringing together artists, cultural institutions, community groups and humanitarian organisations, Little Amal will be welcomed by over 70 cities, towns and villages for street parades, city-wide performances and intimate community events.
Performance like this has the power to transcend language barriers, borders and politics.
We love that performance like this has the power to transcend language barriers, borders and politics. Theatre that brings communities together in a shared and celebratory experience – wherever they are in the world – gets our vote every time.
This major free outdoor event in Manchester will see the city burst into colour and activity with an extensive programme of events. We’ll bring you the full lowdown – as soon as we find out more.
