The Royal Ballet and Opera is delighted to announce its involvement as a cultural partner of the hugely ambitious new public artwork THE HERDS, coming to London from Friday 27 June to Sunday 29 June. 

Friday 6 June 2025

THE HERDS sees an ever-growing group of life-size puppet animals stampede through cities across Africa and Europe, travelling north to flee climate disaster. Along the way, they interact with, and react to, performances from the world’s leading cultural institutions and climate activists. On 3 April 2025, the animals began a 20,000km route from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle. Key stops along the way have included Kinshasha, Lagos and Marrakesh, with stops to come including Paris, Venice and Madrid. The puppets are made from upscaled and recyclable materials – primarily cardboard and plywood – with a focus on bio-degradable and organic materials. 

The herd arrives in London on Friday 27 June and travels through Soho to Somerset House, encountering performances and theatrical readings along the way including an appearance in Seven Dials by Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical and a performance from the Jette Parker Artists of The Royal Opera. 

The Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Artists Programme is a two-year programme committed to nurturing the next generation of conductors, directors, répétiteurs and singers by offering career-changing opportunities across the Royal Ballet and Opera stages. 

THE HERDS  is engaging with global climate organisations – including WWF, United Nations Environment Programme, 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.  

As well as engaging with the stampede in person, audiences will be able to follow the parade online and via social media. Full details of the performance, as well as RBO’s involvement, will be made public in the coming weeks. 

www.theherds.org 
Instagram: @the__Herds 
X: @The__Herds 
Tiktok: @theherds2025