Little Amal makes early morning arrival over Clifton Suspension Bridge

The giant puppet of a Syrian refugee child who has captured hearts around the globe made an early morning entrance over Bristol’s most famous landmark.

Little Amal may have had a relatively low key reception as she walked over the Clifton Suspension Bridge at dawn on Friday morning, but the 3.5 metre-tall moving artwork will enjoy a proper welcome later as she is taken on a tour of the city, accompanied by a lineup of artists and performers.

The puppet made headlines across the world last year when she embarked on an 8,000km walk across Europe to focus attention on the urgent plight and needs of young refugees.

The name Little Amal means hope and her visit to Bristol falls during Refugee Week and towards the end of Bristol Refugee Festival.

The route on Friday will take her from King Street, through the Old City to the Floating Harbour, where the puppet will embark in true Bristol style onboard a ferry boat.

She will be joined along the route by some well-known names, including Circomedia, Bristol Samba, Bristol Old Vic Street Theatre Company and poet Miles Chambers, among many others.

Little Amal arrived into Bristol by walking over the Suspension Bridge soon after 5.30am – photo: Rob Browne

Little Amal is a living artwork of a young Syrian refugee – photo: Rob Browne

Speaking ahead of the tour, Tom Morris, artistic director of Bristol Old Vic, which curated the lineup of artists for the day’s event, said: “We are excited to welcome Little Amal to Bristol to meet our community, to see our beautiful city and to find out more about Bristol’s status as a City of Sanctuary.

“By welcoming her to Bristol we will also learn from her, understanding more about our own complicated past and our dream of being a fairer and more welcoming city in the future.”

People who would like to join Little Amal on her walk through the city are encourage to make their own bird puppets to accompany them.

Little Amal’s route through Bristol – image: Bristol Old Vic

The timetable for the day is as follows:

3pm: Bristol Old Vic – puppet-making workshop for anyone over the age of seven (or younger with adult support).

4pm: Bristol Old Vic – A performance by Syrian musicians Dijwar Khalil and Soufian Saihi, supported by Bristol Refugee Festival.

4.30pm: Bristol Old Vic – Little Amal arrives and renowned poet and cultural commentator Miles Chambers performs his poem Bristol Bristol!

4.40pm: Bristol Old Vic – Music by Bristol Old Vic Community Choir.

4.45pm: Welsh Back – Drumming by DMAC UK.

5pm: High Street – Dance piece by Doorstep Arts and acta Community Theatre.

5.10pm: Corn Street – Market stalls run by refugee support organisations. Little Amal will meet the ‘wedding party’ hosted by members of Bristol Old Vic’s Made in Bristol cohort at Bristol Register Office before going on to greet Circomedia performers.

5.30pm: Broad Quay – Performance by Bristol Samba with Bristol Old Vic Young Company Street Theatre group.

6pm: Cascade Steps – Little Amal leaves by ferry.

Little Amal has walked almost 5,000 miles across Europe, focussing our attention on the urgent needs of young refugees – photo: Rob Browne

Main photo: Rob Browne; video: Martin Booth

Read more: Bristol Refugee Festival returns for 2022 

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