The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal)
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) firmographics
Firmographics- 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
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) industry classification
Industry- 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
Where The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Support from Schroders and other corporate sponsors for the project.
- 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.
- Government Development Funding: Funding from Agence Française de Développement: The Metis Art and Development Fund supporting international development and cultural initiatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free Public Access |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal)
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ukwanda Puppets and Designs Art CollectivecoreWorld-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 InternationalcoreArts venue in Manchester, UK hosting THE HERDS performances as part of their programming.
- Sadler's WellscoreLeading international dance and theatre venue in London, partner for THE HERDS UK performances.
- Bridge TheatrecoreLondon theatre venue partnering with THE HERDS for performances.
- Dik DanstheaterminorDanish dance theatre hosting THE HERDS performances.
- Olavsfest TrondheimminorNorwegian arts festival hosting THE HERDS in Trondheim.
- ICAF Festival RotterdamminorInternational contemporary arts festival in Rotterdam hosting THE HERDS.
- Academie des Beaux-Arts KinshasacoreArts academy in Kinshasa, DRC supporting THE HERDS Central Africa launch and local artist involvement.
- A Whitespace Creative Arts Foundation (AWCA)coreLagos-based foundation supporting THE HERDS West Africa programming and local artist partnerships.
- Blaise Senghor Cultural CentercoreCultural center in Dakar, Senegal (Centre Culturel Régional de Dakar Blaise Senghor) hosting THE HERDS performances.
- ARTYARDminorArts organization supporting THE HERDS with residencies and programming.
- AlbaecominorSwedish environmental organization providing climate expertise and connections for THE HERDS Scandinavian tour.
- Givisme ForeningenminorDanish arts organization producing THE HERDS Copenhagen performances.
- The Global Rewilding AlliancecoreInternational rewilding organization providing climate and conservation expertise for THE HERDS messaging.
- Hope SolutionscoreSustainability consultancy partnered with THE HERDS to design sustainable production practices.
- Renew Culture: Theatre Green BookcoreTheatre sustainability organization providing green production standards and practices for THE HERDS.
- Centre for Humanities Research at University of Western CapecoreAcademic research center where Ukwanda Puppets serves as artist-in-residence. Provides puppet design and fabrication expertise.
- High Atlas Foundation MoroccominorMoroccan foundation supporting THE HERDS North Africa programming.
- Bolton & QuinncoreUK-based arts and entertainment PR agency handling THE HERDS UK press and communications.
- Theseus AgencycoreStrategy and management agency handling THE HERDS media rights and commercial partnerships internationally. Contact: [email protected].
- Bloom berg ConnectsminorDigital platform featuring THE HERDS guide and content for audiences to explore the project.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- 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
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) social profiles
Digital presenceThe Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&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)
What does The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) do?
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.
Is The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) a public or private company?
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) founded?
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) based?
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Foundation and Trust Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship, individual Donations and government Development Funding.
Who are The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal)'s main competitors?
Others on record are Migration Museum, Julie's Bicycle and Julie's Bicycle / Global Green Creative Network. Direct peers are Punchdrunk, Complicité, Handspring Puppet Company and Good Chance Theatre. Broad incumbents are Royal National Theatre and Cirque du Soleil. Battersea Arts Centre is listed as a regional player.
Does The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal).
What industry is The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal) in?
The Walk Productions (The Herds and Little Amal)'s product category is Performing Arts / Public Art Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAAAE, Art, Street Art & Creative Scene Tours, with a secondary code of MPADADAM, Travel & Adventure Documentaries. Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7900.