Michael Ende

The Long Road to Santa Cruz

puppet theatre play

Is there anyone who has never felt lonely, deserted, rejected? Who doesn't wish to be loved and recognized, just him and nobody else? Who wouldn't want to run away, rather than go to school, work or other serous places, responsibly? Who hasn't ever run away from reality, into the realm of fantasy, play and fairy-tales? Is there any child who has never felt like their parents surely don't love them anymore, especially when they get a new sibling? Who hasn't felt, as a child, that their parents only send them to school in order to get rid of them?

The protagonist of Michael Ende's story, Soma (“age: 8 years and 3 months, height: 1 meter 25 cm, live weight: 35 kg, hair color: red, face: freckled”) seeks the answer to these life questions, who, after being in the centre of attention in the family, is pushed into the shade when his little sister  Sára is born.

Sibling rivalry and immeasurable adventurousness push him into exciting fantasy games, in which he can proof what a fine boy he really is, and how much the grown-ups misjudge him. The kid goes through a real character development, then, during his hazardous journey, he realizes that he is, in fact, loved by his parents, and his family will stand by him in, come what may.

For ages 6 and above.

Cast of characters:

Premier: 2015.12.05