HEYWOOD PREPARES TO WELCOME THE HERDS
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Preview by Steve Cooke
Transforming Greater Manchester into a breathtaking untamed spectacle to vividly dramatize the climate crisis, the hugely ambitious new public artwork THE HERDS will see life-sized animal puppets travel through the city region from 3 – 5 July including Heywood on 4 July
The animals visit as part of an epic journey that began on 9 April in Kinshasa. As the animals cross continents, they will grow in numbers and species including elephants, giraffes, antelope and lions, with some local species joining THE HERDS along the route. Puppets will be operated by local participants in each city, highlighting the scale of the climate crisis and the collective effort needed to fight it.
Factory International and The Walk Productions are looking for amateur makers and DIY enthusiasts to join the puppet build https://factoryinternational.org/whats-on/making-the-herds-puppet-building-workshops/ and 100 local people to help operate the puppets https://factoryinternational.org/get-involved/callout-moving-the-herds/
MAKING THE HERDS puppet build sessions will create new life-sized puppet animals, including red deer, wildebeest and wolves, that will join the herd in Greater Manchester. Sessions will be led by master puppet makers between 17 May and 19 June and are open to ages 16+.
MOVING THE HERDS is a once in a lifetime training and performance opportunity to puppeteer THE HERDS in Heywood, following three days of intensive puppet training with The Walk Productions’ Artistic Director Amir Nizar Zuabi, world leading puppeteers Ukwanda Puppets & Design Art Collective and puppetry director and designer, Craig Leo. The opportunity will run from 30 June – 5 July and is open to Greater Manchester residents ages 18+ with an enthusiasm for performance.
Young People are invited to learn more about THE HERDS and create their own puppet animal at drop-in workshops during May Half Term and on Saturday 28 June. LET THE WILDNESS IN family workshops will be held at Aviva Studios and are suitable for ages 6+.
For the opening event of Manchester International Festival 2025, on Thursday 3 July the displaced herd arrives in Manchester City Centre, set on interrupting an orchestral performance by Manchester Camerata. Encounter THE HERDS as they scatter through the city, sweeping the music into their frenzy. Find yourself between Cathedral Gardens and Market Street, and you might just stumble upon them. Is that the sound of music you hear, or something wild approaching?
After opening MIF25 with a dramatic arrival in Manchester City Centre, THE HERDS abandons the bustling city for the residential streets of Heywood, Rochdale. Encounter the animals in the industrial shadow of Mutual Mills before they move to Queen’s Park in search of nature. Can they find a tranquil moment away from the city?
Low Kee Hong, Creative Director of Factory International and Manchester International Festival said: “With THE HERDS’s visit to Greater Manchester we’re really proud to once again bring iconic international public art to our streets for everyone to witness and be inspired by. More so, we’re thrilled to celebrate the creativity of our area by inviting people from Greater Manchester to become a part of THE HERDS, whether contributing to the herd, or performing in the events.”
Amir Nizar Zuabi, Artistic Director of THE HERDS, 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. Meet us whenever you can."
Heywood, Rochdale
Friday 4 July, 7pm
Mutual Mills, Aspinall Street, Heywood, OL10 4HP
THE HERDS is brought to life by The Walk Productions, the international team behind Little Amal, and led by Artistic Director Amir Nizar Zuabi. It and brings together leading artists and arts and educational institutions across Africa and Europe. Following their visit to Greater Manchester THE HERDS continue their journey northwards to the Arctic Circle.
THE HERDS will engage with global climate organisations – including WWF International, Save the Elephants, Wild Africa, Global Rewilding Alliance and TED Countdown - as well as numerous arts organisations, scientists, artists, zoologists, politicians, climate activists, universities and civil society groups across Central, West and North Africa and Europe to present one united call for action.
THE HERDS will be included on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural app powered by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Bloomberg Connects platform will give audiences a behind-the-scenes insight into the work of many of the internationally renowned artists co-creating the public art events for THE HERDS.
As well as joining events in-person across the route, audiences will be able to follow THE HERDS online and via social media.
There will be arts and educations workshops and activities on the theme of climate change inspired by THE HERDS, supported by Art Fund. Art Fund is bringing together 44 museums and galleries across the UK to take part in THE HERDS with their local communities allowing thousands more people to get involved.
In Greater Manchester; The Co-operative Heritage Trust is working a primary school in Rochdale to create a Rochdale HERD that will take over Rochdale Pioneers Museum on Saturday 7 June; Wigan Museum’s Young Curators Collective will work with local artist and puppet maker Eleanor Ferguson to co-create puppets from recycled materials; Manchester Museum will host a series of workshops with Olympias Music Foundation inspired by animals in Manchester Museum’s collection and Science and Industry Museum will encourage visitors to explore the surprising species that exist in post-industrial urban spaces and develop simple surveying techniques to explore wildlife in their local area.
Greater Manchester listings:
Manchester City Centre
Thursday 3 July, 6pm
Around Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Square and Market Street
Heywood, Rochdale
Friday 4 July, 7pm
Mutual Mills, Aspinall Street, Heywood, OL10 4HP
Pennington Flash Country Park, Leigh, Wigan
Saturday 5 July from 1pm
Pennington Flash Country Park
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