Little Amal: Syrian refugee puppet to visit Northern Ireland

Little Amal will travel to Northern Ireland next month

A large art installation which depicts a 10-year-old Syrian refugee is coming to Northern Ireland next month.

Little Amal, which has travelled to 160 towns and cities in 16 countries, was built to represent children fleeing war, violence and persecution.

Free tickets are now available for some public events, with the project arriving in Belfast on 16 May.

Her arrival to Northern Ireland is a signature event in Belfast City Council's Belfast 2024 programme.

The puppet, standing at a height of 12ft (3.7m), is presented by The Walk Productions alongside Handspring Puppet Company and local partner ArtsEkta.

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It was made by the same artists who worked on the puppet for the theatre production of War Horse.

It takes three puppeteers to animate Little Amal - one person to operate each of her arms, plus a stilt walker whose legs become Amal's and who also animates her face.

Where can I see Little Amal in Belfast?

There will be a number of opportunities to see Little Amal in Belfast next month.

• Thursday 16 May: Her arrival, via the River Lagan, will be followed by a free outdoor performance at Custom House Square (19:00-20:00 BST, doors 18:30)

• Friday 17 May: After meeting with community, school and faith groups and exploring the city, including some of the city's peace walls, Little Amal will travel to St Anne's Cathedral for an evening of live music and art (performance 20:00-22:00, doors 19:45)

Tickets for the Custom House Square, St Anne's Cathedral, CS Lewis Square and Cave Hll shows are available, limited to four per person.

All other public events in Belfast during Little Amal's visit do not require a ticket to attend.

"Her urgent message to the world is: "don't forget about us'," says her creators

• Saturday 18 May: Little Amal will be crowned the May Queen and will lead a parade from Writer's Square to City Hall, (starting at 12:30), she will then travel to CS Lewis Square in east Belfast for an outdoor show, suitable for all ages (19:00-20.30, doors 18.30)

• Sunday 19 May: Following a tree planting event in Colin Glen Forest Park (11:00-12:00, doors 10:30), Amal's final stop will be the slopes of Cave Hill at the Four Treasures of Tuatha (19:00-21:00) for a music and dance ceremony

After her stop in Belfast, Little Amal will journey on to Newry, Mourne and Down, crossing the border before concluding her travels in Dublin.

Details of these events are yet to be announced.

The puppet takes three people to operate

Speaking ahead of the visit, David Lan from The Walks Productions said he is "thrilled Amal will be visiting Belfast, Newry, Dublin and places in between".

"Wherever she goes, crossing borders, making new friends, bringing strangers together, she adds a little to the wellbeing of the world, even in these especially dark times," he added.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Ryan Murphy encouraged members of the public to "be part of what promises to be a very memorable experience".

"This is a really impressive line-up of events, which combines grassroots, community-led activities with the very best of our local arts scene, to create a packed weekend of events, with something for everyone to enjoy," he said.

Little Amal has previously visited Vatican City

ArtsEkta chief executive Nisha Tandon said the organisation has been working with residents and artists to co-create a "spectacular programme of events".

"We are inviting everyone to join us in the celebrations, which will see every corner of the city come alive with music, dance, theatre and art to help Little Amal learn about Belfast's people, stories and heritage," she said.

Councillor Valerie Harte added: "Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is delighted to be involved in this all-island initiative and for our residents to have the opportunity to hear Little Amal's message of hope and empathy.

"We can't wait for Little Amal to learn about our diverse community as she shares her story and will be sharing details of how and where to join in with 'Walk with Amal' in our district in the coming weeks."