21 September – 17 October 2021

France

Amal began her journey through France in the mountain community of Breil-sur-Roya before visiting many new exciting locations on her way north.

Little Amal’s journey through France was produced by The Walk Productions and Good Chance Theatre in association with Handspring Puppet Company and Claire Béjanin with logistics production by FIRSTEP.

Click here to learn more about the team that created The Walk 2021.

Breakfast in a Safe Place

Breil-sur-Roya

Emmaus La Roya and their friends welcomed Amal in the central marketplace, accompanied by the children of Breil.

This is a past event that took place on 21 September 2021.

My Friend Liberte

Toulon, France

Place de la Liberté

Liberte, a 10 year old French girl imagined as a puppet and created by Theatre Liberté welcomed Amal to the port city of Toulon.

This is a past event that took place on 21 September 2021.

Arrival to the City

Marseille, France

MUCEM

Amal arrived in Marseille by boat, escorted by different barges and welcomed by the Mucem (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations).

Amal was greeted by the Syrian filmmaker and visual artist Ammar al-Beik.

As a child, Ammar spent his days in his uncle’s sewing workshop in Damascus before leaving in exile. Now based in Marseille, he offered Amal a cape to Little Amal “This is your source of warmth. Your shield. This is what keeps you whole”.

She was then invited to a big meal with traditional mezze dishes designed by the artist Mélanie Bourlon, with music by Rohan Houssein, directed by Grégoire Ingold, with the children of the Maison pour tous Saint Mauront and the association La Caravelle.

This is a past event that took place on 22 September 2021.

 

When the Waves Have Come and Gone

Marseille, France

Plages des Catalans

On the Catalan Beach, Amal discovers a new performance, created by the Palestinian choreographer Samar Haddad King (Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre). 

When the Waves Have Come and Gone is a large-scale dance performance that honors the lives of migrants lost at sea.

Hundreds of dancers in life jackets came together to explore the pain of lost life and the aliveness of the human body. This performance brought together many dance companies from Marseille and the region.

With Ex-Nihilo, Association Coline, Pulsion, RIFT, AfroVibe, Ekoele, Collectif Skalen and Collectif B.

This is a past event that took place on 22 September 2021.

A Bed for the Night

Marseille, France

La Criée Théâtre National de Marseille

After the long day in Marseille, a tired Amal found a bed for the night at La Criée Théâtre National de Marseille.

She was surrounded by storytellers who told her bedtime stories to help her drift into peaceful sleep.

This is a past event that took place on 22 September 2021.

My Little Red Car

Marseille, France

Cité des Arts

Générik Vapeur, a street theater company, picked up Amal and offered her a ride on a soapbox car built especially for her.

Amal travelled the streets of Marseille in her new car in a festive parade towards La Cité des arts de la rue for a big tea party with the inhabitants of the neighborhood.

This is a past event that took place on 23 September 2021.

Traces in the Snow

Briançon, France

Heading north, Amal met mountaineers who welcome her with the MJC of Briançon, Tous Migrants, Le Refuge and Un thé dans la neige.

She warmed up around a picnic and met many children, artists and inhabitants who were eager to get to know her and tell her about life in the mountains.

This is a past event that took place on 24 September 2021.

Aunty Samira’s Favourite Dish

Lyon, France

Place Djebraïl Bahadourian

Amal finds her way to Bahadourian square where she met the local children from the Syrian community of Lyon.

The artist Diala Brisly invited her to complete a giant mural to be sent to a refugee camp in Lebanon and to share a moment of Dabké dance.

This is a past event that took place on 25 September 2021.

Amal at the Parc de la Tête d’or

Lyon, France

Place des Terreaux

For her second day in Lyon, Amal is runs into a group of people all holding empty placards.

A walking performance originally created by Anna Halprin.

This is a past event that took place on 26 September 2021.

In the Grown-ups’ Building

Strasbourg, France

Council of Europe

Amal was be welcomed in the home of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Strasbourg by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

She met the President of the Assembly and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe along with parliamentarians from 47 countries. She passed on her own human rights message for future generations, especially focussed on the situation of migrants, refugees and asylum seeking  children.

This is a past event that took place on 30 September 2021.

A Belfort Welcome

Belfort, France

La Place d'Armes

Amal was welcomed by the symbol of resistance of Belfort: the giant lion of Bartholdi…

The national stage and its partners wished her good luck for the rest of her journey by offering her a cuddly toy to comfort her during difficult moments.

This is a past event that took place on 30 September 2021.

A Suitcase full of Past

Charleville-Mézières, France

Place du Theatre

In Charleville-Mézières, Amal encounters others who are carryings large suitcases like her.

What are they carrying? What are they leaving behind? Later, a group of refugees offered her a book to share their experience and gave her advice on life in France.

This is a past event that took place on 10 October 2021.

The Treasure Hunt

Aubervilliers, France

Fort d'Aubervilliers

With Festival Villes des Musiques du Monde, Amal walks through Aubervilliers accompanied by children from the 93 region.

Amal followed a giant treasure hunt created by Maryam Samaan (visual artist), Khaled Al Warea (architect and scenographer), Rania Badri (musician and composer), Sim Marek (graffiti artist) and with Raphaël Hilarion (artistic coordinator) at the Fort of Aubervilliers.

This is a past event that took place on 12 October 2021.

Big People

Bobigny, France

MC93

Amal is welcomed by the company Les Grandes Personnes for a unique evening with Les Allebrilles.

A parade in Bobigny with masks, floats and large puppets illuminated the evening in a fantastic ballet. In partnership with la MC93 (Maison des Cultures de Seine-St-Denis).

This is a past event that took place on 12 October 2021.

A Curious Stroll In La Villette

Paris, France

Parc de la Villette

Leaving Seine-Saint-Denis for Paris, Amal crossed the Parc de la Villette where she met new friends.

Amal was welcomed by the artists in residence at Espace Périphérique (Roxana from the company لب Bolbol, puppeteer Carine Gualdaroni from the company Juste après, circus artists from the Micro Compagnie and LXS REYENXS).

Then, surrounded by groups of children who participated in puppetry workshops (APSVVillette Makerz) and in gardening workshops  (Little Villette), Amal crossed the Parc de la Villette and received gifts made just for her.

At the end of the event, the association les Couleurs de Pont de Flandres and Le Centre social et culturel Rosa Parks  presented Amal with a new scarf.

This is a past event that took place on 13 October 2021.

Sheltered Worlds

Paris, France

Institut du Monde Arabe

In front of the Institut du Monde Arabe, Little Amal discovered an installation of tents in the heart of the city.

Echoing the camps, from each tent sounds of moments and memories of people from different parts of the world.

The installation – designed by Annika Bromberg with sound by the composer Muqata’a – carried the fleeting moments between stability and fragility, the visible and the invisible; individuals from different cultures living together in a space they have not chosen.

This is a past event that took place on 13 October 2021.

At the Palais Royal

Paris, France

Palais Royal

Amal discovers the Comédie-Française. She was welcomed to the stage by a resident actor, Gaël Kamilindi, who has himself experienced exile.

He read her a story and a poem about travelling and after leaving the Comédie Française, Amal wandered in the Jardin du Palais Royal.

This is a past event that took place on 14 October 2021.

Lost in Paris

Paris, France

Hôtel Coulanges

Amal was welcomed by 3537 at the Hôtel Coulanges by Thanks for Nothing.

Then, as night falls, she walked to the Place de la République in silence.

This is a past event that took place on 14 October 2021.

Hide and Seek

Paris, France

Institut du Monde Arabe

On the square in front of the l’Institut du Monde Arabe, Little Amal played hide-and-seek between the tents.

Amal was joined by children from UPE2A classes (Pedagogical Units for Allophone Students).

At the end of the hide-and-seek, Michael Morpurgo, the world-renowned British children’s author, joined them to give Amal courage for the rest of her journey by reading one of his stories.

This is a past event that took place on 14 October 2021.

When Words Fly

Paris, France

Ground Control

At Ground Control, Amal and the children of the Collège Rodin and Droit à l’école played with large bird puppets made by the artist Einat Landais, with messages for Amal written on the birds’ wings.

A mural drawn by unaccompanied minors at We Came From was displayed and at the end of their meeting and Amal was offered a crown representing Paris.

The children invited to the event shared a meal prepared by the Refugee Food Festival. With Le Mouffetard – Théâtre des arts de la marionnette.

This is a past event that took place on 15 October 2021.

I Saw Paris and Danced

Paris, France

Parvis des Droits de l'Homme

Amal was welcomed at the Théâtre National de Chaillot, led by choreographer Rachid Ouramdane.

A collaborative artistic event welcomed little Amal with the XY Company and unaccompanied minors on the square of Trocadéro, the historic place where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed.

This is a past event that took place on 15 October 2021.

And Now It’s Time to Leave

Paris, France

Du Pont d'Iéna au Petit Bain

Amal boarded the boat from the Pont d’Iéna to continue her journey beyond Paris.

Parisians, artists and associations followed her departure from the banks of the Seine and wished her good luck for the rest of her journey. In partnership with Petit Bain and Odyssée.

This is a past event that took place on 15 October 2021.

The Things I’ll Take

Dunkerque, France

Place Jean-Bart & Théâtre de la Licorne

“Welcome Amal” 

Amal wandered around the main square of Dunkerque accompanied by the Just’1Kiff Company with Bojoo and his musician Bastien Charlery.

“A Suitcase, a Story” exhibition by the Théâtre de la Licorne

Everyone packs the essentials, the necessities or even the superfluous for a trip, just in case… Imagine having to leave for a very long time, very far away. Imagine having to flee in a hurry and having to lighten your luggage by choosing one object, one souvenir. Inspired by these questions, La Licorne created an installation composed of unique suitcases and objects.

“A Concert for Amal”

The Théâtre de la Licorne school’s students’ orchestra by André Nita and supervised by the teachers of the Conservatoire de Musique d’Art Dramatique welcomed Little Amal with a concert.

These are past events that took place on 16 October 2021.

One Last Breath Before the Sea

Grande Synthe, France

Église St Joseph towards l'Atrium

Amal was welcomed by the associations of Grande Synthe in front of the church of St Joseph.

They welcomes her into the Atrium for a moment of comfort and music.

In partnership with Carrefour des solidarités, City of Grande-Synthe, SALAM, Fragile-les-Bulles and ADRA.

This is a past event that took place on 17 October 2021.

In the Fort Nieulay

Fort Nieulay, France

The Occupant.e.s du Channel and Good Chance Theatre marched with Amal through Calais.

Amal was welcomed at the “Porte de Calais” at the Fort Nieulay with the Choeur de Lutte choir, the kites of the Shanti association, the harpist Belinda Welton from Musique pour la Vie et pour un Monde Meilleur, the Breton musicians Gabriel Faure and Jean Luc Thomas, the batucada of the Occupant.e.s du Channel, and Waël the king of England, a character created by Veronika Boutinova.

Students from secondary schools, primary schools and high schools delivered messages of welcome and humanity.

In partnership with L’Auberge des Migrants, Loup Blaster, Dans ta Face, Choose Love and Le Channel.

This is a past event that took place on 17 October 2021.

There's Many of Us

Bray Dunes, France

On Bray-Dunes beach, Amal walks to the shore and stares ahead of her towards the United Kingdom.

In silence, she is joined by the giants of the North who, one at a time, line up behind her, also facing towards the sea as the sun sets.

Mezzo-Soprano Joyce DiDonato and guitarist Miguel Rincón Rodriguez accompany Amal’s last moments in France.

This is a past event that took place on 17 October 2021.