What happens when trust is lost and friendships are put to the test? This question was at the heart of this year’s children’s musical, “Die Weltenspringer und die verlorene Harmonie” (“The World-Hoppers and the Missing Harmony”), performed by 150 children and teenagers. They captivated around 1,200 audience members at Theater Gütersloh while delivering a powerful message about unity, respect, and mutual understanding.
In the “Cantara – Bridging Cultures” project run by the Liz Mohn Stiftung and Gesellschaft in Bewegung e.V., students from the Gütersloh elementary schools Blankenhagen, Kattenstroth, and Sundern, and from the Bielefeld elementary schools Ummeln and Martinschule joined forces with the youth group “Cantara – Bridging Cultures Youth” to bring to the stage a story whose message is more relevant than ever. On their journey through mysterious worlds, the young World-Hoppers discover that harmony cannot be taken for granted. It can only emerge where people listen to one another, accept differences, and take responsibility together.
The story took audiences through mysterious underwater worlds and colorful fantasy realms to the legendary city of Atlantis. Combining acting, dance, music, and impressive stage effects, the musical captivated audiences from beginning to end.
At the sold-out school performance on June 18, Founder Liz Mohn highlighted the special power of music in her welcoming remarks: “Music builds bridges of understanding across all languages and borders. It is an important contributor to the cohesion of our society.”
This message shaped not only the story itself but also the process behind it. The children and teenagers spent months developing the musical together with theater educator Canip Gündogdu, choreographer Andreas Wegwerth, and choir director Leila Benazzouz. They rehearsed, exchanged ideas, created scenes, and grew together as a group along the way.
The sustained applause after all three performances showed just how deeply the musical had moved the audience. Parents, teachers, fellow students, and numerous other guests celebrated the young performers for their courage, creativity, and remarkable stage presence.
With this musical, “Cantara – Bridging Cultures” once again demonstrated how cultural education can empower young people. It creates opportunities for meaningful encounters, nurtures talent, and builds bridges between people from different backgrounds — far beyond the stage itself.
