月を見る夜 Moongazing - La Mama Theatre, Carlton, Melbourne - Feb ‘26
Yumi will be performing in 月を見る夜 Moongazing in February 2026 at La Mama Theatre.
月を見る夜 Moongazing was previously developed as part of Antipodes Theatre Company's 2025 Winter Lab and received a 2025 La Mama Residency. This project is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants, the Hansen Little Foundation and VCA Foundation, and The Ian Potter Cultural Trust.
YUMI / LA MAMA INTERVIEW:
月を見る夜 Moongazing's Yumi Umiumare makes short work of the big questions...
1. How do you approach your art?
My artistic approach varies depending on the project, but fundamentally, I view art as an essential component of my life. I consider it nourishment, life force, and a form of spiritual practice. Therefore, I approach art as a sacred tool that allows me to open my soul through creativity and play.
2. How do you know when something is “finished”?
In the light, it is the quiet, satisfied void,
A conforming echo, a voice of completion deep inside.
In the shadow, it is the dull weight that settles low,
When feeling turns to frost, and the spirit's strength runs slow.
3. What’s your favourite way to work?
>Easy simple flowing process without effort
>Cohesive process with individual strength from each artist
>Respecting the space where invisible force is working on behalf of us
CAST ANNOUNCEMENT
There’s a search bar at your fingertips. but does it have the answers you need?
From the infinity of the internet to the fate of the stars, 月を見る夜 Moongazing looks at the systems we are now turning to for practical, emotional and spiritual guidance.
A chance encounter between two women of the Japanese diaspora, young and old, kicks off an unlikely friendship. But as Tsukiko is drawn to the kind Chie, she seems to find herself with more questions than answers.
Drawing from Noh, Japanese folktales and the digital realm, 月を見る夜 Moongazing is a meditation on the stories we inherit and the grief of witnessing familial and cultural ties dissipating in an increasingly atomised world.
Featuring ANNA FUJIHARA (MOTHERLOD_^E), YUMI UMIUMARE (ButohOUT!) and SEAN YUEN HALLEY (Love & Information).
Information & Booking Details:
La Mama HQ, 205 Faraday Street, Carlton, Melbourne
4 February - 22 February 2026
Run Time: 70 min
Preview: Wed 4 February, 6:30pm
Opening: Thu 5 February, 6:30pm
Japanese Community Night: Wed 11 February, 6:30pm
Queer Night: Thu 12 February, 6:30pm
Matinee: Wed 11 February, 1pm; Wed 18 February, 1pm
+ Post-show Q&A: Sun 15 February, 4pm
Auslan Interpreted: Wed 18 February, 6:30pm
Industry Night: Thu 19 February, 6:30pm
On Demand Season: 1 March - 6 March
