The Event

On the stage of the Križany Križany in Ljubljana, as part of the Ljubljana Festival 23 August - Slovenian premiere of the musical Child of Peace (Peace Child) - an artistic project that has been inspiring young people around the world to speak about the future through music and theatre for more than four decades. First performed in the UK in 1981, the musical has been performed more than 10,000 times to date and has become a global platform for dialogue and peace, from Central America to the Balkans. 

This year's story - youth co-creation 

Young people work together to create a musical Child of Peace - a story of cooperation, dialogue and the future they want. The special feature of this year's project was that the young people themselves co-created the text and the music and discussed key global challenges: from education for peace, climate change, safe migration and artificial intelligence to issues of love, acceptance and solidarity. During the ten days of the intensive camp at Brdo pri Kranju So All Participants  created by an emotional, engaging and contemporary premiere, which impressed the Križanke audience with its artistic power and universal message. 

On the occasion of the premiere Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, mag. Tanja Fajon, addressed the young people with moving words: 

"Yesterday, when we met at Brdo pri Kranju and I watched your eyes, I saw the world as it should be. For ten days you lived, created and dreamed together. You were not just preparing a musical, you were building a home without walls, you were building the world house that Martin Luther King dreamed of. You turned diversity into harmony, fear into courage and silence into a message the world needs to hear today."  

The Minister stressed that she was proud that Slovenia, as a member of the UN Security Council, was able to bring the voices of young people to the international community. She particularly welcomed the presence of the Foreign Minister of Palestine, Dr Agabekjan Shahin, and the participation of the Palestinian Amwaj Choir from Bethlehem and Hebron, supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, together with singers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and young musicians from Ukraine.  

Culture as inspiration for the economy 

The Slovak premiere was introduced by Business Forum organised by SPIRIT Slovenia and the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport, who stressed that culture and economy are inextricably intertwined and together create a powerful diplomatic tool. Speakers highlighted the strategic role of culture in diplomacy, the economy and a country's development, identifying it as a bridge between peoples and generations - a cornerstone of coexistence and an inspiration for young people to become builders of peace and the future. 

Looking ahead - Vienna 

The SIT DOWN project will continue and conclude its journey in Vienna, where it will On 23 October 2025, on the eve of United Nations Day, the Austrian premiere of the musical is staged in the famous Konzerthaus.   

 We would like to thank once again all the supporters of the project, who can be found in a letter of thanks. 

Programme

1. I, who am I
2. Paradise
3. Inventions
4. World
5. War
6. I Want to Live
7. Father in the Sky
8. Superman
9. Listen to Me
10. I Have a Vision
11. I Believe
12. Dreamer
14. Mr President
15. Child for a Day

Performing Artists

Author of The Book of Peace by Bernard Benson
Music and lyrics by David Gordon
Screenwriter: David Woollcombe
Adapted by Matija Krečič
Produced by Slovenian Youth Orchestra, Peace Child International Foundation (London)
Director Matej Filipčič
Conductor Živa Ploj Peršuh

Slovenian Youth Orchestra with associated musicians and singers, Amwaj Choir and SUPERAR BIH  

Narrators of the musical Child of Peace 

Alessandro Asselin
Adrian Groselj
Pia Fabijan
Lydia Mushkatina
Shea Ferron
Dominic Mafham