Opening their 2026 Season, La Mama Presents an Antipodes Theatre Company production of 月を見る夜 Moongazing at La Mama HQ from 4 February.
Inspired by the Japanese folktale ‘Ubasute-yama’ and its Nōh rendition, 月を見る夜 Moongazing is a poetic exploration of loneliness in our increasingly atomised and technology-driven society. A tender, budding intergenerational relationship anchors the play to ask where the future and past meet, where they clash, and where they blur together
Playwright Maki Morita is interested in how language informs our relationships and understanding of ourselves in the digital age. Her linguistic inquiry spans beyond her proficiency in Japanese and English, extending into the ways we now communicate online and in ‘real life’.
She is curious about the impacts of tech-dependency on our mental health, like chatting with AI in search of practical, emotional, and spiritual guidance. “This play is inspired by ghost stories, folktales, Noh, endless doomscrolling and astrology obsessions, among other things,” said Morita.
“It’s really for anyone who has grieved or felt lonely or a little out of place, anyone who wants to switch their phone off but doesn’t because you need it to participate in today’s world,” added Morita.
“This piece touches on the fragility of self-esteem and self-image in our modern digital landscape, where human connection can be both meaningful and vacuous,” said Antipodes Theatre Company Artistic Director, Brandon Pape. “There are so many incredible facets to Maki’s storytelling style that feel visceral and impactful.”
Director: Ari Angkasa | Featuring: Anna Fujihara, Yumi Umiumare, Sean Yuen Halley | Costume Designer: Kiara Brown | Composer and Sound Designer: Jack Whu | Stage Manager: Jade Hibbert | Dramaturg: Roshelle Yee Pui Fong | Vision & Systems Designer: d duàn 段耀钦 | Intimacy Coordinator: Bayley Turner | Creative Producers: Brandon Pape, Cameron Steens | Playwright: Maki Morita
月を見る夜 Moongazing
La Mama HQ, 205 Faraday Street, Carlton
Season: 5 – 22 February 2026 (preview: 4 February)
Information and Bookings: www.lamama.com.au
Image: 月を見る夜 Moongazing – photo by Darren Gill