Liverpool is set to welcome a special visitor this week when Little Amal arrives at the docks for a procession along the city's iconic waterfront.
The giant puppet, embodying a 10-year-old Syrian refugee, will explore this historic place of arrival and departure and will reflect on her own journey to the UK. Little Amal embarked on an 8,000km trip from Syria to Manchester last year, and now the 3.5-metre-tall puppet is travelling to 11 locations as part of her ‘New Steps, New Friends’ tour.
Last time that Liverpool welcomed a Giant Spectacular, a staggering 1.3 million people lined the streets of the city in an event which generated £60.6 million for the local economy. And now its Amal's turn to grace the waterfront, where she will learn about the city’s history of migration alongside Tate Liverpool and National Museums Liverpool.
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Speaking about Amal's visit, Mark Da Vanzo, CEO at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres, said: “Liverpool has always opened its arms to embrace migrants and refugees. As we look forward to sharing our city with Amal to explore, we know the footsteps she takes will be familiar to many of the Syrian, El Salvadorian and Afghani refugee families we have worked with over the years.
"Arts and culture are powerful ways to create connection and understanding, so our hope is that Amal’s visit will build on the work we’ve been doing and that of our cultural partners, including Museum of Liverpool, Tate Liverpool, Unity and SOLA Arts, serving as a reminder to us all to continue to welcome those who seek sanctuary.”
We've rounded up everything you need to know about Little Amal's visit, including timings, the route she will take and whether you need to book a ticket.
When is Little Amal coming to Liverpool?
Little Amal will arrive in Liverpool on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. She'll arrive at 12pm and be a guest of honour in the city for two hours until 2pm.
What route will Little Amal take?
Amal will start her visit with a welcome at the Royal Albert Dock from the Liverpool FC Foundation’s Inclusion team, who'll invite her to put her football skills to the test outside of the Martin Luther King Jr Building.
After this, Amal will make her way down Hartley Quay, towards Tate Liverpool where she will meet 60 children from Smithdown Primary School who will participate in art activities. This is part of the gallery’s Tackling the Blues project, partnered with Edge Hill University and Everton in the Community, which uses arts-based education to support young people aged 6-16 who are experiencing, or are at risk of developing, mental illness.
Next, Little Amal will travel to Ugo Rondinone’s florescent sculpture, Liverpool Mountain, which stands tall at 10 meters in Mermaid Courtyard, making the perfect photo opportunity for Amal to remember her time at Royal Albert Dock.
Following this, National Museums Liverpool will encourage Amal to become part of the Museum of Liverpool’s community archaeology team at Piermaster’s Green, investigating the lives of people who lived and worked on the docks, before offering the opportunity to reflect on Liverpool’s long maritime history, as well as its links to the transatlantic slave trade.
As a final farewell from her time at the waterfront, Asylum Link, a local choir supporting asylum seekers and refugees in the city, will perform for Amal on the Museum of Liverpool’s steps as the perfect parting gift before she continues her journey with Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatre.
Little Amal will finish her visit to Liverpool with a trip to a local primary school where she will join the children in playing games and getting creative with art activities. The children include those from families the Everyman and Playhouse have worked in partnership with SOLA Arts to support, as well as those with a refugee background.
Do you need tickets?
The good news is that the event is completely free to attend and no booking is required, so you can head down to Liverpool's waterfront and enjoy this family-friendly event without the hassle of booking tickets.
You can find out more about Little Amal by clicking here.
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