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Life-sized animal puppets to stampede across London

Berclaire for The Walk Productions A close up of the face and part of body of a life-sized ape made from cardboard and plywood.Berclaire for The Walk Productions
Jean-Baptise Joire People walking through a street in Dakar, Senegal, with the ladies wearing a bright yellow and black dress, and then men in t-shirts. They are posing by three cardboard animal puppets. Jean-Baptise Joire
THE HERDS have already travelled through DR Congo, Nigeria and Morocco
The animal puppets include elephants, apes and antelopes

Life-sized animal puppets that have been stampeding through cities across Africa will make their way to London next month.

The public artwork is to highlight the animals travelling north to "flee the climate disaster", said The Walk Productions, which the presents large scale art.

THE HERDS make their way to London from 27 to 29 June, visiting The Scoop and making their way from Soho to Somerset House, Coram's Fields, Camden High Street and Stratford.

The animals began their stampede on 9 April in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and have so far travelled through Lagos, Dakar, Marrakesh, Casablanca and Rabat, encountering local musicians, artists, dancers and climate activists.

Kashope Faje for 88 Life Studios A large puppet elephant and ape being transported on a small boat on the Makoko River in Lagos. There are a number of people on the boat supporting the animals. One man is stood at the front of the boat with a large stick in the water. Kashope Faje for 88 Life Studios
THE HERDS is engaging with global climate organisations including WWF, United Nations Environment Programme and Save the Elephants

The puppets are made from upscaled and recyclable materials – primarily cardboard and plywood – with a focus on bio-degradable and organic materials.

As the animals travel they will grow in number and species including elephants, giraffes, antelope and lions.

They will travel through Europe, including Madrid, Marseille, Venice and Paris, before arriving in the UK.

THE HERDS stampede will feature performances, theatrical readings and music along the way and a hunt is also planned to break out on Camden High Street.

After London, they will continue their journey north to Greater Manchester and then travel through Scandinavia to the Arctic Circle.

Amir Nizar Zuabi, the artistic director, said: "THE HERDS is an urgent artistic response to the climate crisis, a living, breathing call to action that stampedes across continents.

"Through the beauty and ferocity of these life-size creatures, we aim to spark dialogue, provoke thought, encourage engagement and inspire real change."

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