the walk
2021
Syed Haleem Najibi and Tewodros Aregawe joined artists from across the capital in welcoming Little Amal at the Royal Opera House as part of Good Chance Theatre’s ‘The Walk’. On the 23rd October 2021, the 3.5 metre-tall puppet, created by Handspring Puppet Company, spent the night at the Royal Opera House where various performances lulled her to sleep.
Syed and Tewodros performed two narratives, written by Kate Duffy-Syedi and directed by Esther Dix.
The evening included performances by The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, Citizens of the World Choir and London-based Syrian oud player Rihab Azar — bringing together artists with lived experience of displacement.
The event, attended by refugee groups from across London, was one of over 100 making up The Walk – where the cane and carbon-fibre puppet travelled 8,000 km – from the borders of Syria to the UK.
““I want to tell her that people will be good, that all the people with kind eyes who have walked alongside her and listened to her story will be louder than those who wish she wasn’t there”.”