The Neverending Story

A mysterious book fascinates young Bastian: The Neverending Story. Full of enthusiasm, he takes part in the adventures of its hero Atreyu and in his dangerous mission: He is supposed to save the dreamland Phantásia and its sovereign the Childlike Empress. Soon, however, Bastian must realise that he is more than an uninvolved spectator. And then he finds himself suddenly in Phantásia …
Michael Ende’s masterpiece has been adapted for the stage again and again. “Now I know what my Neverending Story should sound like”, the author is supposed to have said, when listening to a rehearsal of the opera by Siegfried Matthus. At long last, this opera with its libretto by Anton Perrey had its premiere ten years after Michael Ende’s death.

Picture of the performance on the left: Copyright © Düsseldorfer Marionetten-Theater

Theatre Rights

  • First published in: 1972
  • Theatre rights:
    Verlag für Kindertheater
    Max-Brauer-Allee 34
    22765 Hamburg
    Tel.: 040-60 79 09 916
    Fax: 040-60 79 09 51
    Contact person for performance permits: Juliane Lachenmayer
    E-Mail: kindertheater@vgo-kindertheater.de
    www.kindertheater.de

Premiere

  • Berliner Kammerspiele, 10 October 1984, Director: Harald K. Reinke.

Further Performances

  • Vereinigte Städtische Bühnen Krefeld, 1998.
  • Opera:
    Die unendliche Geschichte (The Neverending Story)
    With music by Siegfried Matthus based on a libretto by Anton Perrey. Premiere (simultaneously): National Theatre Weimar and Theatre Trier, 10 April 2004.
  • Puppet theatre:
    Die unendliche Geschichte (The Neverending Story)
    Düsseldorfer Marionetten-Theater, premiere: 18 October 2012.