The Neverending Story at the Young Theater Bonn: Imagination Takes the Stage

A Journey to Fantasia: The Young Theater Bonn Opens the Gates to Imagination

Michael Ende's classic returns to the stage of the Young Theater Bonn in an adaptation by Moritz Seibert and Timo Rüggeberg. The 2017 production is aimed at audiences aged 7 and up, lasts about 120 minutes including a break, and relies on strong lighting atmospheres. The material itself carries a rare blend of adventure, melancholy, and self-discovery that transforms a family piece into a real stage experience. ([jt-bonn.de](https://www.jt-bonn.de/stuecke/details/?cHash=2adfe0355bf786d09a22449e4c410055&tx_theatre_play%5Baction%5D=show&tx_theatre_play%5Bcontroller%5D=Play&tx_theatre_play%5Bplay%5D=41))

When a Book Becomes a Cosmos

At the center is Bastian Balthasar Bux, who escapes into the world of books and comes across a work that won't let him go: The Neverending Story. From there, Fantasia unfolds as a threatened dream landscape, where nothingness devours entire regions and Atreyu is sent on a quest for salvation. The dramaturgy stays close to the core of the novel and condenses the great material so that children can easily find their way, while adults can explore the depth of the poetic world design. ([jt-bonn.de](https://www.jt-bonn.de/stuecke/details/?cHash=2adfe0355bf786d09a22449e4c410055&tx_theatre_play%5Baction%5D=show&tx_theatre_play%5Bcontroller%5D=Play&tx_theatre_play%5Bplay%5D=41))

Direction, Performance Style, and the Unique JTB Signature

Moritz Seibert, the artistic director of the house, has adapted the material for the stage together with Timo Rüggeberg and directed it at JTB. The Young Theater Bonn has relied on a unique blend of professional ensemble and young actors for years, giving the evening an unmistakable theater atmosphere. This is precisely where the tension arises: youthful immediacy, precise acting, and a direction that does not illustrate imagination but makes it come alive. ([jt-bonn.de](https://www.jt-bonn.de/stuecke/details/?cHash=2adfe0355bf786d09a22449e4c410055&tx_theatre_play%5Baction%5D=show&tx_theatre_play%5Bcontroller%5D=Play&tx_theatre_play%5Bplay%5D=41))

Set Design, Light, and the Magic of Signs

Critics praised the production as a magical world with beautiful light and shadow plays, fabulous costumes, and comical puppets. This suits material that lives from images: clouds, desert, wind, silence, danger, and hope. The strong lighting is both part of the form and a dramaturgical accent that makes the fantasy world feel fragile and threatened. ([jt-bonn.de](https://www.jt-bonn.de/stuecke/details/?cHash=2adfe0355bf786d09a22449e4c410055&tx_theatre_play%5Baction%5D=show&tx_theatre_play%5Bcontroller%5D=Play&tx_theatre_play%5Bplay%5D=41))

An Audience Favorite with Substance

The reactions to the production range from enthusiastic press reviews to clear audience responses. Schnüss called it one of the great productions of JTB, the General-Anzeiger emphasized the fantastic life experience with which Bastian returns to his world, and the Bonner Rundschau highlighted the clear imagery of the evening. It is precisely this blend of accessibility and conceptual breadth that makes the performance so appealing for families, school classes, and theater lovers. ([jt-bonn.de](https://www.jt-bonn.de/stuecke/details/?cHash=2adfe0355bf786d09a22449e4c410055&tx_theatre_play%5Baction%5D=show&tx_theatre_play%5Bcontroller%5D=Play&tx_theatre_play%5Bplay%5D=41))

Young Theater Bonn: A Venue with a Profile

The JTB has been one of the key addresses for young audiences in Germany for decades and is located at Hermannstraße 50-52 in Bonn-Beuel. For arrival, the venue recommends the stops Markt or Brüdergasse/Bertha-v.-Suttner-Platz; there are parking options available, for example, in the Marktgarage. The venue was extensively renovated in 2016, with a focus on comfort and maximum accessibility. ([tickets.jt-bonn.de](https://tickets.jt-bonn.de/event/die-unendliche-geschichte-mriuvj))

Anyone experiencing The Neverending Story live will receive more than a well-known literary adaptation: a poetic theater adventure that brings courage, imagination, and self-discovery into a powerful form. For children aged 7 and their companions, this creates an evening that resonates long after. Secure tickets now and discover Fantasia on stage. ([jt-bonn.de](https://www.jt-bonn.de/stuecke/details/?cHash=2adfe0355bf786d09a22449e4c410055&tx_theatre_play%5Baction%5D=show&tx_theatre_play%5Bcontroller%5D=Play&tx_theatre_play%5Bplay%5D=41))

Official Channels of Young Theater Bonn:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jungestheaterbonn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jungestheaterbonn
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JungesTheaterBonn
• Website: https://www.jt-bonn.de

Sources:

• Young Theater Bonn - The Neverending Story
• Young Theater Bonn - Location and Directions Thalia Kuppelsaal
• Vivenu - Tickets for The Neverending Story
• Eventim - The Neverending Story - Young Theater Bonn
• Theatergemeinde Bonn - The Neverending Story
• Theater Bonn - Young Theater Bonn
• Young Theater Bonn - Season Program 26/27