The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal)

What The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) does

The Walk Productions is a London-headquartered, non-profit public art production company founded in 2019 by producers David Lan and Tracey Seaward alongside Artistic Director Amir Nizar Zuabi. The company creates large-scale, free, participatory public art spectacles designed to provoke emotional engagement with global crises — beginning with the 12-foot puppet Little Amal (a refugee child, experienced by more than 2 million people across 26 countries) and extending to THE HERDS, a life-size puppet animal procession that completed a 20,000km journey from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle between April and August 2025.

Its core product is mobile, outdoor theatrical spectacle. Puppets — zoologically accurate animals scaled from 15 to 100 units across a single tour — are designed and fabricated by Ukwanda Puppets and Designs Art Collective in Cape Town using renewable and locally sourced materials, under sustainability protocols co-designed with Hope Solutions and Renew Culture (Theatre Green Book). Supporting products include the E-Co performer collective (43 artists from 19 countries trained in a 10-week intensive program), the "Let The Wildness In" education program covering six biomes, and a Bloomberg Connects digital guide.

The Walk Productions generates no revenue from audiences (all performances are free) and is funded through a diversified mix of institutional grants from arts councils, development agencies, and foundations (Arts Council England, Bloomberg Philanthropies, AFD, Art Fund, Swedish Postcode Lottery, Backstage Trust, Frederick Mulder, Jerwood, JKW), corporate sponsorship (Schroders), individual donations processed via UK and US vehicles (Walk To The Horizon charity, Chapel & York, givestar), and co-commissioning arrangements with host venues and festivals (Sadler's Wells, Factory International, Bridge Theatre, ICAF Rotterdam, Olavsfest Trondheim). Distribution is event-driven: the art travels to the audience in streets and public squares across municipalities worldwide, with commercial media rights handled by Theseus Agency and UK press by Bolton & Quinn.

Name

The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal)

Legal name

The Walk Productions Ltd

Website

https://theherds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Walk Productions is a London-based non-profit that designs and tours large-scale, free public art spectacles — notably THE HERDS (life-size climate-themed animal puppets) and Little Amal (refugee-themed puppet) — for audiences across 15+ countries, funded by institutional grants, foundations, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Public Art Production

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Art, Street Art & Creative Scene Tours (THAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Travel & Adventure Documentaries (MPADADAM), Walking City Tours (Highlights & Orientation) (THAJAAAA)

Keywords

• Public art productions
• Participatory puppet performances
• Climate crisis theater
• Large-scale street spectacle
• Refugee awareness art

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Trust Grants: Funding from major foundations including Arts Council England (National Lottery), Bloomberg Philanthropies, Art Fund, Frederick Mulder Foundation, Jerwood Foundation, JKW Foundation, Maria Björnson Memorial Fund, Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Support from Schroders and other corporate sponsors for the project.
3. Individual Donations: Donations from individual supporters including James Armstrong, the Hacking Family, Cheryl Henson, Danielle Lambert, Alexander Leff, Valerie Dillon & Daniel Lewis, Melony & Adam Lewis, Patrick McKenna and Paul Zuckerman. Donations accepted via Chapel & York (US), givestar (UK), or direct to Walk To The Horizon charity.
4. Government Development Funding: Funding from Agence Française de Développement: The Metis Art and Development Fund supporting international development and cultural initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Walk Productions creates and tours large-scale participatory public art productions built around life-sized puppet animals and characters. Its flagship production, THE HERDS, staged a 20,000 km procession from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle to confront audiences with the climate and biodiversity crisis. The company also runs Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a refugee child touring internationally since 2019. Both productions are offered free to the public and delivered through partnerships with arts venues, festivals, municipalities, and climate organizations across Africa, Europe, and beyond.

Product overview

The Walk Productions operates as a production company creating large-scale participatory public art projects. The core offerings include THE HERDS (life-size climate-themed puppet animal performances traveling from Africa to the Arctic) and Little Amal (a 12-foot puppet highlighting refugee stories). Supporting products include the Let The Wildness In education program with habitat-specific learning materials, the E-Co Emerging Company performer collective, a Bloomberg Connects digital guide, and the Walk To The Horizon charity for donations. The company works with climate partners, scientists, and conservation organizations to shape their artistic climate action projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• THE HERDS: A groundbreaking work of public art featuring life-size puppet animals to inspire action and renew the bond with the natural world, addressing the climate crisis. The journey ran 20,000km from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle from April to August 2025.
• Little Amal

Products and services

• THE HERDS A groundbreaking public art project featuring life-size puppet animals (elephants, giraffes, gorillas, kudu, lions, vervet monkeys, wolves, deer, moose, reindeer) that traveled 20,000 km from Kinshasa, DRC to Nordkapp in the Arctic Circle to raise awareness about the climate crisis and renew bonds with the natural world through large-scale outdoor performances; offered free to public audiences.
• Little Amal A 12-foot high puppet of a refugee child, created by The Walk Productions in 2019, that toured internationally as a participatory public art piece highlighting refugee issues and forced migration; experienced by more than 2 million people in 26 countries across five continents.
• Let The Wildness In Education Program A dynamic educational program designed to connect young minds with nature and climate action through downloadable education packs and puppet-making guides covering six different habitats; targeted at schools, teachers, and youth groups.
• E-Co (Emerging Company) A collective of 43 trained performers from 19 countries who deliver THE HERDS performances at festivals and events worldwide; members receive 10 weeks of intensive professional puppeteer training from Ukwanda Puppets and Designs Art Collective.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 million+ people experienced THE HERDS and Little Amal across 26 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ukwanda Puppets and Designs Art CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025World-renowned puppetry company based in Cape Town, South Africa. Responsible for designing and fabricating all THE HERDS animal puppets. Founded by Luyanda Nogodlwana, Siphokazi Mpofu, and Sipho Ngxola.
• Factory InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Arts venue in Manchester, UK hosting THE HERDS performances as part of their programming.
• Sadler's WellscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Leading international dance and theatre venue in London, partner for THE HERDS UK performances.
• Bridge TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025London theatre venue partnering with THE HERDS for performances.
• Dik DanstheaterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Danish dance theatre hosting THE HERDS performances.
• Olavsfest TrondheimminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Norwegian arts festival hosting THE HERDS in Trondheim.
• ICAF Festival RotterdamminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025International contemporary arts festival in Rotterdam hosting THE HERDS.
• Academie des Beaux-Arts KinshasacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Arts academy in Kinshasa, DRC supporting THE HERDS Central Africa launch and local artist involvement.
• A Whitespace Creative Arts Foundation (AWCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Lagos-based foundation supporting THE HERDS West Africa programming and local artist partnerships.
• Blaise Senghor Cultural CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Cultural center in Dakar, Senegal (Centre Culturel Régional de Dakar Blaise Senghor) hosting THE HERDS performances.
• ARTYARDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Arts organization supporting THE HERDS with residencies and programming.
• AlbaecominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Swedish environmental organization providing climate expertise and connections for THE HERDS Scandinavian tour.
• Givisme ForeningenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Danish arts organization producing THE HERDS Copenhagen performances.
• The Global Rewilding AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025International rewilding organization providing climate and conservation expertise for THE HERDS messaging.
• Hope SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Sustainability consultancy partnered with THE HERDS to design sustainable production practices.
• Renew Culture: Theatre Green BookcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Theatre sustainability organization providing green production standards and practices for THE HERDS.
• Centre for Humanities Research at University of Western CapecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Academic research center where Ukwanda Puppets serves as artist-in-residence. Provides puppet design and fabrication expertise.
• High Atlas Foundation MoroccominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Moroccan foundation supporting THE HERDS North Africa programming.
• Bolton & QuinncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025UK-based arts and entertainment PR agency handling THE HERDS UK press and communications.
• Theseus AgencycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Strategy and management agency handling THE HERDS media rights and commercial partnerships internationally. Contact: [email protected].
• Bloom berg ConnectsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Digital platform featuring THE HERDS guide and content for audiences to explore the project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Migration Museum: UK-based museum/exhibition programme focused on migration and refugee stories. Comparable thematic adjacency to Little Amal's mission of public engagement with refugee narratives through cultural experience.
• Julie's Bicycle: UK charity supporting arts organisations to address environmental sustainability. Comparable as an ecosystem partner for The Walk Productions' sustainability commitments and overlap with climate-focused cultural programming.
• Julie's Bicycle / Global Green Creative Network: Adjacent climate-and-culture networks that connect large-scale public art with environmental messaging. Comparable as a thematic peer in operating at the intersection of cultural production and climate advocacy.

Direct peers

• Punchdrunk: UK immersive theatre company producing site-specific, large-scale participatory performances where audiences physically traverse environments. Comparable in its event-driven, free-roaming public format and emphasis on scale and spectacle.
• Complicité: Internationally touring physical theatre company producing visually distinctive, large-scale productions. Comparable in touring productions that combine serious themes with bold visual storytelling for global audiences.
• Handspring Puppet Company: South African puppet company famous for life-sized animal puppets (notably War Horse). Comparable to The Walk Productions' work with Ukwanda on large-scale theatrical puppetry with zoological accuracy and serious artistic intent.
• Good Chance Theatre: UK-based theatre company that uses public art and performance to support refugees and displaced people, conceptually parallel to The Walk Productions' Little Amal project. Both deploy large-scale participatory performance as advocacy and social commentary.

Broad incumbents

• Royal National Theatre: Major UK publicly funded producing theatre with international touring and education programmes. Comparable in its combination of large-scale public performance, education outreach, and reliance on institutional/public funding.
• Cirque du Soleil: Global large-scale theatrical spectacle operator with a touring business model. Comparable in its reliance on monumental visual production and tour logistics, though commercially focused rather than thematic/mission-driven.

Regional players

• Battersea Arts Centre: London-based arts venue producing participatory and public-facing performance work with international collaborators. Comparable in fostering large-scale public engagement and acting as a programmatic partner for festival-style events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/The__Herds
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@the_herds
• Instagraminstagram.com/the__herds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-walk-productions-little-amal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal)