London is set to welcome an extraordinary spectacle this weekend as a gigantic herd of life-sized puppet animals makes its way through the city.
Following the success of The Walk in 2021which featured the enormous puppet Little Amal, the creative team behind that project has returned with The Herds – a visually stunning migration of puppet beasts journeying from Africa to the Arctic Circlewith London as a key stop on their route.
What is ‘The Herds’?
The Herds features a breathtaking collection of giant puppets representing animals native to the heart of Africa, including elephants, giraffes, antelopes, lions, wolves, and wildebeest. These puppets are crafted entirely from recycled materials, adding an eco-conscious layer to the artistry.
The migration began earlier this year in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congoand the animals are traveling overland through Africa into Europewith the Arctic Circle as their final destination.
A powerful message
Like The Walkwhich highlighted the plight of refugees, The Herds carries a strong environmental message. The puppets symbolise animals fleeing habitat loss and climate change impacts in their native lands. While the theme is serious, the events planned in London promise to be engaging and lively, blending artistry with community participation.
The Herds: London’s route, timings
The puppet herd will arrive at Tower Bridge on the morning of Friday, June 27. At 10am, local primary school children will ‘feed’ the animals in a performance called Cornflakes and Hay, created by the nearby Unicorn Theatre and held at the Scoop amphitheatre near the bridge.
Later that afternoon, the herd will move into the West Endwhere they will interact with performers from Matilda the Musical and the Royal Opera Company in a segment titled Hold On for Deer Life, starting at 4:10pm.
On Saturday, the puppets will visit Cam and Coram’s Fields, continuing their urban adventure. The weekend concludes on Sunday, June 28, with a 3:15pm appearance at Westfield Stratford City, followed by a magical late-night event called Caught in the Light at St James’s Park at 9:30pm. This final event is free but requires registration.
The Herds will only visit London once before moving on to Manchester and beyond. This unique blend of environmental storytelling, community involvement, and spectacular puppetry offers Londoners a rare chance to witness a truly magical event that is both fun and thought-provoking.
