Despite the midsummer heat—with an outside temperature of 36 degrees—the auditorium was packed. The audience enjoyed a moving, humorous, and lovingly staged performance in which the 29 children on stage delivered an extraordinary performance.
The journey leading up to this special day began right after last year’s summer break. Following an audition, an intensive creative phase got underway.
What made it special: The children didn’t just perform an existing musical—they developed the story themselves. Together, they created characters, dialogues, and scenes that eventually grew into the complete production. This was followed by many months of intensive rehearsals, including vocal training, dance training, and acting lessons.
The children were supported in this process by, among others, vocal coach and songwriter Dennis Buss and teacher Miriam Schmitz, who prepared the young singers for their big performance.
Under the overall direction of Corinna Spiller, the project became a true labor of love. Dennis Buss was responsible for the songs, which were composed and rehearsed specifically for the production; his music enriched the musical in a special way.
The story centers on Maya, a little mouse who wants nothing more than a best friend. Her journey takes her first through her hometown of Rheine, then to the zoo, where she encounters many different animals. She helps a crocodile, rescues a monkey, and meets a little lion.
In the mysterious Enchanted Forest, she encounters both friendly and not-so-friendly creatures before passing through a magical portal to an airport and finally arriving in Lanzarote. There she meets Nora, the wise whale, who shares the most important lesson with her: True friendship cannot be forced or sought out—it grows where people or animals meet one another with open hearts.
In the end, Maya returns home and finds her best friend right on her doorstep—a touching ending with a powerful message about courage, friendship, solidarity, and the value of one’s own heart.
It was particularly impressive to see the concentration and enthusiasm with which the children mastered their roles despite the intense heat. They had been working toward this day for many months—and that was evident in every scene. Singing, acting, and choreography blended harmoniously, making the performance a truly special experience.
With “Little Mouse, Big Heart,” the students at Viktoriaschule impressively demonstrated what can be achieved when creativity, team spirit, and dedication come together.
The prolonged applause at the end of the performance was a well-deserved reward for many months of hard work—and a moving conclusion to an extraordinary musical project, which, as it does every year, was a great enrichment for everyone involved, but above all for the children, who impressively rose to the occasion.
A big thank you to everyone who helped out, both on stage and behind the scenes, to all the donors, and to the Viktoriaschule Friends Association, who once again made this wonderful musical possible!