August 10, 2023 | Events, Theatre,

Walking With Little Amal

Described as the “Best Theatre of 2022” by the New York Times, Little Amal, the 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee, is set to begin her latest journey – this time, across the United States and beginning in Boston on September 7.

The puppet, designed by the Handspring Puppet Company, was constructed with lightweight, durable material to ensure that she can be operated for long periods in varying conditions. To animate Little Amal, a team of four puppeteers is required: one for each arm, one supporting her back, and another inside walking on stilts. The fourth puppeteer operates ‘the harp,’ a sophisticated network of strings that brings life to Little Amal’s face, head, and eyes. 

The story of Amal was written from the perspective of a young girl searching for her uncle. Creative director Amir Nizar Zuabi revealed that Little Amal was created to “honor the long journey across Europe that refugees take.” The creators and directors take Little Amal around the world with the hope that every community that welcomes her will keep the reality of what refugees go through in their mind. The project’s major goal was to grant visibility to these invisible members of society, specifically refugee children, unaccompanied minors, and immigrant children and amplify the pressing message: “don’t forget about us.” Amal’s journey serves as a tribute to migration and the richness of cultural diversity, embracing the tales of refugees and immigrants and their significant contributions. Beyond merely addressing the refugees’ necessities, Amal’s story embodies the potential, triumphs, respect, hospitality, and kindness within the broader refugee narrative.

In each city, “The Walk” is custom-tailored to suit the hosting community of Little Amal. Her journey commenced on July 27, 2021, in Gaziantep, a town near the border of Syria and Turkiye. From there, Amal embarked on an East to West journey through Turkiye, heading towards Europe. In May 2022, a significant visit was made to Ukrainian refugee families in eastern Poland, who had been compelled to escape the violence of war in their country. To commemorate World Refugee Week in June 2022, she toured the United Kingdom, traversing the streets from Manchester to Kent.

During October of the same year, a momentous event took place when Bloomberg CityLab in Amsterdam extended an invitation to Little Amal, where she participated in a major global cities summit. There, she led a group of mayors from around the world to visit the Anne Frank Memorial.

In September 2022, New York City hosted Little Amal for a three-week tour, during which 50 Events of Welcome were meticulously organized by artists, civic leaders, community groups, and young New Yorkers from diverse backgrounds. Amal received a warm welcome from the residents of all five boroughs.

ArtsEmerson is proud to welcome Little Amal to Boston this September 7! Her visit will begin at 4pm in Dewey Square and will conclude at the Chinatown Gate. Everyone is welcome to walk with Amal as this event is free and open to the public. For more information regarding Amal’s walk through Boston, along with a detailed schedule, please visit our website.

For updates on Little Amal in Boston and her route, sign up for our mailing list and RSVP to our Facebook event.