Welcome to London Little Amal

On Saturday, two of our team members were invited to the Royal Opera House to welcome Little Amal, a giant puppet which travelled 8,000 km in support of refugees, part of The Walk festival. The puppet represents a young Syrian refugee child who was separated from her family and walks across Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the UK.

The evening began in the Covent Garden Piazza, where two Royal Ballet dancers welcomed Little Amal straight after the Romeo and Juliet performance.

Then, several artists from The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, Citizens of the World Choir, Phosphoros Theater and London-based Syrian oud player Rihab Azar performed in the stunning Paul Hamlyn Hall, to sleep Little Amal.

Jillian Barker, Director of Learning and Participation at the Royal Opera House, said: ‘We are delighted to be welcoming Little Amal to our home, offering her a warm bed under the iconic glass and steel ceiling of the Paul Hamlyn Hall. As London falls still, our singers and dancers will pay tribute both to her journey and to those of the many displaced children across the world — drawing attention to one of the defining issues of our times, and expressing solidarity with the artists and communities that have taken part in The Walk.’ (ROH, Oct 2021).

The event was attended by a whole range of refugee groups across London such as Breaking Barriers and the UNHCR.

Scroll down to see some pictures of the evening.

Royal Ballet Principal dancers Cesar Corrales and Francesca Hayward, coming straight from that night’s Romeo and Juliet curtain call, to welcome Little Amal into the building.

Little Amal walking around Paul Hamlyn Hall while performances from the Royal Opera House, Phosphoros Theater, Citizens of the World Choir, and The Royal Opera Chorus.

Little Amal found her bed for the night and fell asleep thanks to the artists who sung and danced for her.

Sweet dreams Little Amal!