Wanderlust Mongolia and the Power of Theatre : When Words Become Worlds:
- Assitej Enkhtur
- May 5
- 3 min read
In Mongolian wisdom, there is a proverb: a word can awaken a soul; or silence it.
A word is not merely sound.
It is force.
It is memory.
It is creation itself.
Behind every word, a universe unfolds.
It transcends language.
What we carry within us; our thoughts, emotions, and impressions; finds its way outward through words, gestures, and artistic expression. We receive the world constantly: through images, through feelings, through fleeting and profound encounters. Some impressions pass. Others remain deep, unshakable, shaping the very core of who we become.
And often, it is emotion that anchors them.
A single moment in childhood - a story heard, a feeling discovered can live within us forever.
Every child grows up surrounded by stories.
Some are told stories.
Some invent them.
But almost every child becomes a storyteller; instinctively, playfully, truthfully.
Through words, they give shape to their inner worlds.
Through imagination, they transform impressions into meaning.
The deepest joy of childhood lies in this simple act: to discover. And then; to discover again.
From this understanding, ASSITEJ Mongolia brought to life a remarkable vision: the first International Touring Theatre Festival for Children and Youth in Mongolia.
With care, intention, and belief in the transformative power of art, Wanderlust Mongolia was born.
Over the course of the festival, more than 51,000 children across 18 soums in Bulgan and Orkhon provinces encountered something rare and powerful: stories that move, challenge, and awaken.
Not just performances; but experiences.
Not just entertainment; but emotion, imagination, and transformation.
Wanderlust Mongolia is part of the larger Wanderlust Project, one of only two initiatives selected by ASSITEJ International under its “Regional Cooperation Programme.”
What began in Mongolia will continue its journey to Indonesia and Nepal (2026–2027), forming a living bridge between cultures, artists, and young audiences across regions.
As a nomadic theatre festival, Wanderlust does not wait for audiences to come; it travels to them.
Across vast steppe landscapes, through distant soums and remote communities, it brings world-class performances directly to children’s doorsteps; children who might otherwise difficult to experience professional theatre.
This is not only about theatre.
It is about access.
It is about possibility.
Theatre has a unique power: it transforms words into living experience.
A gesture.
A silence.
A light across a stage.
These moments become impressions; and some impressions become lifelong companions.
In the northern regions of Mongolia, in Bulgan’s wide and quiet landscapes, stories came alive through the voices and visions of artists from around the world. Through movement, sound, and imagination, children encountered new ways of seeing themselves; and the world.
Wanderlust Mongolia also embraces its role as an eco-friendly festival, guided by a simple but urgent belief: the future we inspire must also be the future we protect.
Zero plastic waste
Digital-first communication
Low-emission travel
Support for local communities
The festival leaves behind not just memories; but a green footprint.
Wanderlust is not a single event.
It is a movement.
A movement that believes: a child who experiences art does not remain the same.
As the journey continues beyond Mongolia, to Indonesia, to Nepal, and further the vision expands:
To elevate artists.
To grow audiences.
To connect cultures.
To ensure that no child is left without access to imagination.
Because Words Matter
In the end, everything returns to the beginning:
A word.
A story.
A feeling.
From these, worlds are built.
And somewhere, in a small soum under a vast Mongolian sky, a child watches a performance; and begins to imagine.
Discover more about the magic:
Art Review: Ulziibat Enkhtur
Comments