Greater Manchester welcomes THE HERDS | MIF25

Greater Manchester prepares to welcome THE HERDS, kicking off Manchester International Festival 2025 in unforgettable style, bringing a breathtaking spectacle to the streets of Manchester, Rochdale, and Wigan.

Image Credit: Cape Town. Ant Strack (c) The Walk Productions.

What is THE HERDS?

This ambitious public artwork, created by The Walk Productions and led by Artistic Director Amir Nizar Zubai, will see life-sized puppet animals roam the city, dramatising the urgency of the climate crisis. Part of a 20,000km journey across Africa and Europe, these migrating creatures will be joined by hundreds of local participants, transforming the urban landscape into a living, moving artwork. Following the success of The Walk in 2021—when Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a Syrian refugee girl, traveled from Turkey to the UK—this extraordinary production promises to be a powerful and unmissable opening to the festival.

Where can you see THE HERDS?

Greater Manchester will be transformed by a breathtaking untamed spectacle to vividly dramatise the climate crisis.

Thursday 3 July – Manchester City Centre at 6pm

THE HERDS arrive at Cathedral Gardens disrupting a live orchestral performance by Manchester Camerata before scattering 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?

Friday 4 July – Heywood, Rochdale at 7pm

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?

Saturday 5 July – Pennington Flash, Wigan at 1pm

For the final stop on their Greater Manchester journey, THE HERDS find a fleeting refuge in the wild beauty of Pennington Flash Country Park. Visitors are invited to explore the park’s winding trails, pause in bird hides, and quietly observe as 70 life sized puppets appear amid the trees and wetlands. A lion stalking through the long grass. A giraffe blending with the canopy. A silent kudu, watching from the shadows. Will your patience – and your stillness – be rewarded?

Join in THE HERD workshops

Greater Manchester isn’t just hosting THE HERDS—it’s helping build them and here’s how you can get involved:

Moving THE HERDS (Monday 30th June – Saturday 5th July)

A once in a lifetime training and performance opportunity to puppeteer THE HERDS in Manchester, Heywood and at Pennington Flash, 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 is open to Greater Manchester residents ages 18+ with an enthusiasm for performance. 

THE HERDS Summer Family Workshop (Saturday 28th June) 

Got a wild one at home? Let’s turn that creative energy into puppet magic with a free, drop-in workshop. Looking for something fun to do for kids before MIF25 kicks off? Aviva Studios Let The Wildness In family workshops offer a behind-the-scenes look at THE HERDS.

Using the specially created Let the Wildness In activity pack as your guide, create a puppet animal of your very own. Led by professional artists and makers, these sessions are an exciting opportunity to learn more about THE HERDS and get your little ones crafting.

Image credit: Congo Basin. Berclaire for The Walk Productions.

Workshops exploring themes of wildlife, sustainability and co-existence will also take place across Greater Manchester at Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Wigan Museum, Science and Industry Museum and Manchester Museum.

Where do THE HERDS travel next?

Following their visit to Greater Manchester THE HERDS will continue their journey northwards to the Arctic Circle tow engage with global climate organisations. They will include 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.

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.”

Find out more and follow THE HERDS online:

www.theherds.org

Instagram: @the__Herds

X: @The__Herds

Tiktok: @theherds2025

Bloomberg Connects: gain access to exclusive behind-the-scene insights into the work of the internationally renowned artists. 

(Photo credit top image: David Levene)