Cross-Border Collaboration: 'The Moon Seeks a Friend' Adapts Beloved Picture Book in Taiwan-Thailand Co-Production

When the whole world is asleep, who does the moon befriend? As part of the National Taichung Theater’s 'Summer Fun / FUN Time' series, Wu-Du-You-Ou Studio Theater presents a cross-border family puppet show, 'The Moon Seeks a Friend,' directed by acclaimed Thai puppet artist Sirikarn Bunjongtad (Jae). Adapted from the beloved Thai picture book of the same name that has accompanied countless Thai children through their upbringing, the performance will launch a magical journey about friendship, acceptance, and emotional exploration on August 8 and 9 at the theater’s small stage.

The story of 'The Moon Seeks a Friend' follows a warm and radiant sun always surrounded by friends, while the shy moon has no companions—not even someone to say goodnight to. One day, the moon leaves its usual orbit and descends to Earth in search of friendship. Along the way, it tries to play on a seesaw with a little bird but is attacked by the bird’s mother. It attempts to befriend a kitten, only to accidentally set off the kitten’s spaceship. It approaches a sleeping crocodile, but unintentionally startles it, causing the crocodile to open its jaws wide and attack. After this series of setbacks, the moon laments alone: 'No one likes me… making friends is so hard!'

Director Jae explains that the moon symbolizes a shy child who doesn’t know how to make friends at school. This production is not just an adventure tale for children, but also a reflection of her own inner world. Through the moon’s perspective, audiences can experience the universal longing to be understood and accompanied, all within a warm and healing atmosphere. 'It’s also a magical story,' she adds, 'where the moon’s spaceship transforms into a giant star.'

Wu-Du-You-Ou’s Artistic Director Cheng Chia-Yin shares that she had long admired Jae’s work even before Jae arrived in Taiwan in 2018 as a resident artist at the Lize International Puppet Art Village. For Jae, coming to Taiwan was an exciting milestone. When she introduced 'The Moon Seeks a Friend' to Wu-Du-You-Ou, the team was deeply moved by its sincere emotional core, which reminded them of their own childhood moments filled with uncertainty and discovery. Wu-Du-You-Ou encourages audiences to put down their electronic devices and journey alongside the moon.

Bringing a flat picture book to life on stage is no easy task. The production team invested immense effort into puppet design. Puppet designer and builder Chou Hsiao-Wen reveals that the main character, the 'moon,' is embedded with numerous LED strips and batteries to emit a soft, nocturnal glow—though this significantly increased the puppet’s weight. To ensure puppeteers could manipulate it with ease, the team carefully selected lightweight materials, even launching a 'moon weight-loss plan.'

The show also features imaginative and surprising puppets. To depict a pufferfish’s transformation from small to instantly inflated, the team ingeniously used an umbrella mechanism to achieve the visual effect. Additionally, the mother bird’s pants are designed to resemble a bird’s nest, and the crocodile—who loves sleeping under a blanket—is crafted from fabric, giving these characters a cuter, more endearing appearance that aligns with the story’s tone.

National Taichung Theater’s Artistic Director Lee Hui-Mei notes that adults seek identity and belonging, just as children need comfort and companions during growth. Both 'The Little Flower King,' presented in July, and 'The Moon Seeks a Friend' in August—part of the 'Summer Fun / FUN Time' series—are stage adaptations of classic picture books that revolve around the theme of 'searching' for fulfillment in life. These productions are ideal for families to enjoy together.