Seeking Sanctuary

THE HERDS: Heywood

4 Jul 2025

Free to attend – no booking required

Date: 4 Jul 2025
Venue: Aspinall Street, Heywood, OL10 4HP
Tickets

7pm

Free to attend – no booking required

Public art meets climate action in THE HERDS – a monumental migration of puppet animals on a 20,000km journey from the Congo basin to the Arctic Circle.

Is that a giraffe on Market Street? An elephant in Heywood? An antelope in Pennington Flash? THE HERDS are on the move…

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?

After Heywood, THE HERDS moves to Pennington Flash Nature Reserve looking for a glimmer of the wild before continuing its journey northwards to the Arctic.

Photograph: Lagos. Kashope Faje, for 88 Life Studios.

The HERDS

Roaming through cities in West Africa and Europe, the animals are fleeing north to escape climate disaster. THE HERDS is a visual dramatisation of the climate crisis and a stark warning of what may come if animals are forced to flee their natural habitats.

THE HERDS is brought to life by the international team behind Little Amal created by The Walk Productions and led by Artistic Director Amir Nizar Zuabi, and brings together leading artists and arts and educational institutions across Africa and Europe.

Find out more →

Credits

THE HERDS Greater Manchester is produced by The Walk Productions in partnership with Factory International.

Greater Manchester events delivered in association with Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency, and Wigan Council.

MIF25 Opening Event created in partnership with Manchester Camerata.

THE HERDS puppets are designed by Ukwanda Puppets & Designs Art Collective (Luyanda Nogodlwana, Siphokazi Mpofu, Sipho Ngxola), Craig Leo, Simon Dunckley, Hansie Visagie, Tundra Dunckley and Amir Nizar Zuabi.

Image: Ant Strack

Access information

The event takes place in Heywood, between Mutual Mills and Queens Park.

The address for Mutual Mills is Aspinall Street, Heywood OL10 4HP and the what3words is events.popped.leaned.

The address for Queens Park is 158 Queen's Park Rd, Rochdale, Heywood OL10 4UY and the what3words is heave.sushi.nuns.

The Herds will commence in a residential area, as the animals explore their surroundings, before they find peace within Queens Park, Heywood.

THE HERDS takes place around the streets and public spaces of Heywood. The event will be a roaming event, limited seated within the park is available.

This event takes place outdoors. Flat, comfortable shoes and sun protection or wet weather gear (depending on the forecast) are recommended.

This is an event which reflects on the current climate crisis. It may include scenes which some might find upsetting.

Toilets are available at Queens Park.

Assistance dogs are welcome at these events.

The residential location is accessible with a wheelchair. The terrain within the park is accessible with a wheelchair, but the vantage position within the park is located on a gradient.

One-on-one audio description is available for the MIF25 Opening Event on 3 July, and will be delivered by our trained volunteers. If you have any questions about audio description for this event, please call our team on 0161 817 4531 (Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm) or email access@factoryinternational.org.

We will be producing a What To Expect Guide for this event. It will be available from 5 June.

Travel information

THE HERDS takes place between Mutual Mills and Queens Park in Heywood, Rochdale.

Travel information will be available nearer the time.

Become a Member

Be first in line for Manchester International Festival 2025 tickets. Become a Member and get priority booking for the festival and beyond. Are you in?

Join now →