Mooncake

Mooncake — A new puppetry play by Shiny Heart Productions

One moon. Many stories. Far from home. Never alone.

Sam brought mooncakes to the school bake sale. Nobody wanted any. Taj misses his nan. He hasn't told anyone how much.

In their backyard in Marrickville, as the afternoon turns gold, Sam and Taj look up at the moon together. And then, the banyan tree begins to rise — taking two 10 year old friends on an unforgettable adventure far from home, to feel a little less alone.

Mooncake takes children and families from a suburban backyard all the way to the moon — where they meet a Vietnamese woodcutter who never let go, a Chinese goddess who turned her loneliness into light, a Jade Rabbit who makes very questionable medicine, and a Greek goddess older than time. Where every mooncake ever placed on a windowsill and every wish ever whispered into the dark — turns out to have been received.

Told through exquisite puppetry, cultural stories, music and the physical storytelling Shiny Heart Productions is known for, Mooncake is joyful and funny and quietly moving. It is a show about feeling too different to belong, and about missing someone you love. About the stories our grandmothers carry and what happens when we finally listen. About looking up at the same moon and realising: we are never alone.

Content information: Mooncake gently explores themes of grief and belonging. These themes are handled with care and age-appropriate warmth.

Show 1: World Premiere: Wednesday 7 October · 1pm Show 2: Wednesday 7 October · 4pm Show 3: Thursday 8 October · 1pm

For children aged 5+ and their families Running Time approximately 45 minutes · No interval All tickets $30 Family pass (4 x tickets) $100

AFTER THE SHOW

Drama Workshop + Cast Meet and Greet Wednesday 7 October · 2pm-3pm

Go behind the scenes of Mooncake. An interactive drama workshop with the Shiny Heart Productions creative team, followed by a cast meet and greet.

1 hour workshop · $20 Ages 5- 12

Part of Lights Up Kids Festival 2026, presented by Shiny Heart Productions and Flight Path Theatre, supported by Inner West Council. Empowering kids through the Performing Arts.