One little girl. One BIG hope and one of the most innovative and adventurous public artworks ever attempted.
Little Amal, a young refugee, embarks on a remarkable journey – an epic voyage that will take her across Turkey, across Europe. To find her mother. To get back to school. To start a new life. Will the world let her? Can she achieve what now seems more impossible than ever?
Following the phenomenal international success of The Jungle, Good Chance, in collaboration with Handspring Puppet Company, the world-famous creators of War Horse, will present a traveling festival of art and hope in support of refugees, with Artistic Direction from Amir Nizar Zuabi.
The Walk is coming to Folkestone on 19th October – Amal’s first step in the UK! By the time she reaches Folkestone, Amal will have walked nearly 8000km from the border of Syria, bringing together celebrated artists, major cultural institutions, community groups, and humanitarian organisations along the way.
To welcome Little Amal to Folkestone, Creative Folkestone and Folkestone Fringe are gathering a mass of choirs and singers to sing a specially composed song of welcome by acclaimed composer and choir director Anil Sebastian of London Contemporary Voices. The performance will take place on Folkestone Harbour Station at 4pm on Tuesday 19th October – all welcome!
At the heart of The Walk is Little Amal, a 3.5 metre-tall puppet of a young refugee girl, created by the acclaimed Handspring Puppet Company.
At this time of unprecedented global change, The Walk is an extraordinary artistic response: a cultural odyssey transcending borders, politics and language to tell a new story of shared humanity – and to ensure the world doesn’t forget the millions of displaced children, each with their own story, who are more vulnerable than ever during the global pandemic.
With thanks to Martello Building Consultancy who have generously supported the FF to deliver the logistics for The Walk's visit to Folkestone.
Are you in a choir? Do you sing? Would you like to take part in one of the most adventurous public artworks ever attempted?
On Tuesday 19 October, the people of Folkestone and the South East of England will welcome the 3.5 metre tall puppet, Little Amal, to Folkestone - her first UK stop on a journey across Europe from the Syrian border in Turkey to Manchester International Festival.
Major cultural institutions and humanitarian groups have helped Amal along the way and Creative Folkestone and Folkestone Fringe are planning to welcome her to our shores with a specially composed song by London Contemporary Voices Director and Folkestone resident, Anil Sebastian, and the young people of Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN).
As Amal arrives, hundreds of voices will greet her in a song of welcome. This is a pivotal moment that will see community choirs, school choirs, professional singing groups and individuals come together in a spectacular choreographed singing event that will be broadcast worldwide.
Simple parts will be circulated in advance of the live performance day. Workshops will occur both physically and digitally to ensure that people from all over the South East can take part with ease. We will all come together to rehearse on the day before the performance begins.
From Monday 20 September Music distributed to choirs. Digital workshop online and a limited number of in-person workshops available with Anil Sebastian or a member of London Contemporary Voices.
Saturday 9 October, 10am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm
Open song circle workshops with Anil Sebastian and London Contemporary Voices for independent singers to learn the song parts. No experience is necessary, just come along and lend your voice to the throng! Choir members are welcome to attend.
Sunday 17 October, 10am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm
Open song circle workshops with Anil Sebastian and London Contemporary Voices for independent singers to learn the song parts. This will be a repeat of the workshops on 9 October. You are welcome to come along to all the workshops or just one. The format will be the same for each of the workshops, but they will be different depending on who turns up. Choir members are welcome to attend.
If you can’t make it, Anil has created a pre-recorded digital workshop, music score, & mp3 track for you to practice at home if you wish. To get your copy, or any additional information, contact [email protected].
Tuesday 19 October, 2.30pm
Choirs and singers gather in East Yard on Folkestone Harbour Arm for rehearsal and positions ready for Amal to arrive at 4pm. The event will be filmed and last no more than 1 hour.
Do you want to get involved in welcoming Little Amal to Folkestone? Contact Louella Ward - [email protected]. Join in workshops both physically and virtually from the 20th of September to welcome LittleAmal with hundreds of singing voices. Contact Louella to register your interest as a choir, or an individual singer, or to ask any questions about taking part.
Photo credit @andre_liohn starting her journey in Turkey.
