Youth Exchange "Youth in Wonderland: Montottone"
October 4 - 10, Montottone (Germany)
The historic streets of Montottone were transformed into a theatrical stage: With a wonderful performance of Alice in Wonderland, the second part of the German-Italian youth exchange Youth in Wonderland reached its highlight.
From 4 to 10 October 2026, ten young people from the Kohren region in Germany and ten from Montottone and the surrounding area came together to rehearse, create and further develop the theatre project they had started in spring.
The young participants, aged 13 to 15, had already met in Kohren-Sahlis in April, where they developed their first scenes together. Now, they enjoyed a warm reunion in Montottone, the Italian twin town of Frohburg/Kohren-Sahlis. The host families welcomed the German participants with great openness and warmth, inviting them to experience everyday life in their homes.
The former kindergarten, known as the Ex Asilo, became the group's shared creative space. It was here that scenes, costumes and props took shape; where ideas were tested, laughter was shared and the final performance gradually came together. Everyone had the opportunity to contribute their individual talents – whether through acting, building or creative design.
On Friday, 9 October, the big moment finally arrived: The public performance began in Piazza Roma. From there, the audience followed the young performers through Montottone's historic streets and into Alice's Wonderland. Squares, ancient walls and narrow passageways became the settings for the story. Along the way, spectators encountered the White Rabbit, the Caterpillar and other extraordinary characters. The unique atmosphere of the town, combined with the creativity and teamwork of the German-Italian group, made the evening an unforgettable experience.
The performance took place as part of the annual Beer Festival, jointly organised by the town twinning initiatives of both communities. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to bring together the commitment to the town partnership and the young people's international exchange. Frohburg's Mayor, Karsten Richter, was also among the guests. His first impression of Montottone came through a rather extraordinary guided tour – led by the young performers themselves through the magical world of Alice in Wonderland. The youth exchange came to a fitting conclusion with the presentation of the Youthpass certificates during the celebrations. Youthpass certificates are the official certificates recognising participation in an Erasmus+ youth exchange and documenting the young participants’ learning achievements and personal development.
The young participants had every reason to be proud of themselves. Together, they had overcome language barriers, taken responsibility and created a performance to which everyone had contributed. Throughout the project, they were supported by Franziska and Marc Mascheck (KulturGut Linda e.V.), Luzie Ackers (TheatreFragile), Silvan Carius (Satellites – Youth Mobility Projects e.V.) and the two language mediators and Italian group leaders, Elisabetta Ricci and Marina Ricci.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the host families, the Municipality of Montottone, the town twinning initiatives of both communities and the many dedicated local people whose hospitality and support made this exchange possible. We would also like to thank the City of Frohburg for supporting the project. This week demonstrated just how vibrant a town twinning partnership can become when young people bring it to life through their ideas, creativity and friendships.
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