When I read that a giant puppet would be walking through some London suburbs, I went to have a look. I didn't go to support the cause, I went because I have never seen a giant walking puppet in real life.
On 22 October 2021, the giant puppet of a Syrian child refugee was welcomed to Deptford. In a project called The Walk, Little Amal has travelled through much of Europe after setting off from the Turkish-Syrian border in July and will finish in Manchester. The 5,000-mile journey symbolises “millions of displaced children”.
The puppet is 3.5-metre tall and is operated by three people, one standing on a pair of stilts inside its body and two others beside moving its arms. It represents a 9 year old girl.
Quite a crowd turned out to welcome her, including the mayor, deputy mayor and speaker from Lewisham Council. Many people there are in favour of more refugees coming into the borough. The puppet’s long trek is intended to be a walk for all the children, many unaccompanied and separated from their families, who are forced to undertake extraordinary journeys under life-threatening conditions. “Little Amal will walk so that we don’t forget them”, organisers say.
I was more curious just to see the puppet in action, though it was difficult with so many people. This was my first glimpse of her. Several people had placards, which said "The Walk. Lewisham Council welcomes Amal.
The puppet was made by War Horse creators Handspring Puppet Company from a moulded cane body with carbon fibre head, arms and legs.
A BBC news item from 11 Aug "Little Amal: The giant puppet walking 5000 miles from Turkey to the UK".
More about her route can be seen here , and a map
And her visit to the Royal Opera House in London.
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