Step into a world of shadows and light, where two unlikely friends go on a journey of discovery!
Inspired by the artist’s own migrant journey to Australia and decades of living between two cultures, Kiki and Zuki tells the story of Kiki, a quiet dreamer from the Moon, and Zuki, a curious Earthling. They see the world in different ways and try to find new ways to understand each other. Through beautiful shadow puppetry and heartfelt performative storytelling, Kiki and Zuki take you on a magical journey of friendship, understanding, and finding connection beyond words.
Kiki and Zuki includes a 25 min show + 20 mins short workshop of shadow puppet
Kiki and Zuki
Kiki and Zuki brings shadow puppetry and performative storytelling to kids and families. Kiki, a dreamer from the Moon, and Zuki, a curious Earthling, embark on a journey of friendship, understanding, and connection beyond words.
About
Who is this for?
The show is designed for ages 6 and up but welcomes audiences of all ages.
Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We also recommend subscribing to newsletters from your local councils and children-focused festivals, so you don’t miss out!
When is the next event?
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Photo: Courtesy of Banyule Council
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![Photo by Lorris Nguan Wee Yong]()
Photo: Lorris Nguan Wee Yong
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Photo: Kien Faye Lee
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Photo: Teo Swee An
Upcoming events
If no events are displayed here, it means we don’t have an upcoming show at the moment. Please follow us on social media above.
Past events
2025
> Abbotsford Convent - Melbourne, Australia (April)
> Maribyrnong City Council as part of Cultural Diversity Week 2025 - Footscray, Australia (March)
2024
> Banyule Community Health & Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub - Melbourne, Australia (September)
> Melaka Art and Performing Fest - Melaka, Malaysia (August)
> First development at Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub (May)
Team
Co-creator, visual art and performer
Youbi Lee
Co-creator, concept and performer
Taka Takiguchi (滝口貴)
Sound designer and composer
Ai Yamamoto
Acknowledgement of support
Kiki and Zuki was assisted by Melaka Festival 2024 (Tony Yap) for an in-kind performance space at Baboon house in Melaka Malaysia.
Kiki and Zuki was conceived, developed, and presented in 2024 with support from the Banyule City Council’s Arts and Culture program team.
Audience Feedback
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“I deeply connected with this story as an immigrant from Ireland. It’s a fantastic show that resonates with both parents and kids alike.”
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“My kids absolutely loved the shapes of Kiki and Zuki! A few weeks later, they even drew them from memory, which truly amazed me. I was surprised by how much shadow puppetry sparked their creativity— Thank you!”
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“As an immigrant myself, I couldn’t hold back my tears, even though I wasn’t sure why I was crying. It was a really touching work, and I recommend to all migrant parents too (not only for kids)”
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“Our kids (6, 9, and 12 years old) each enjoyed the show and post-show activity in their own unique way. It was wonderful to see how it engaged them differently! I highly recommend it for families with kids of various ages.”
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“My kids had never seen an overhead projector before or knew how to use one. It was amazing to watch the artists bring it to life right in front of us, allowing us to experience shadow puppetry in a whole new way!”
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“These shadow puppet with multi cultural storyline are a gift”
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"I attended with my 5 year old son. I was extremely moved by my son’s engagement with the workshop and his understanding of the storyline. Watching the children create their own puppets and performance was a credit to the hosts."
Parent - April 2025
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Excellent event for children with a very subtle but important message about the migrant experience.
Parent - April 2025
Tour details
Genre
Family & Childrens
Venue Format
Black Box, Hall, Flat Floor, Residency
Duration
50 Minutes
Available
October 2025 onwards
Fees
Remount: currently not required
Standard 2 day sell off or Per performance
Please contact the producer
Technical info
Touring party: 2
Bump-in time: 3 hours
Bump-out time: 1.5 hours
Resources
Artistic Materials
Technical Specifications
Marketing kit
Video
Promotion
Full length
(please contact for the link)
Others
Shadow puppet making workshop
available to add-on
Presenters’ Feedback
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"It was delightful to see the development and presentation of 'Kiki and Zuki' as part of Banyule City Council’s Arts and Culture program. The work cleverly weaved diverse shadow puppetry techniques and movement with nuanced migration stories inspired by the artist's own experience, to create a show tailored for children and families. The experience was truly special and unique for our community and all performance sessions were booked out across two venues. We received feedback noting that the work was both entertaining and enriching for children and adults, and particularly resonated with parents from migrant backgrounds. We strongly recommend "Kiki and Zuki" for your communities as well."
Arts and Culture Program, Banyule City Council - October 2024
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"We were delighted to present Kiki and Zuki as part of our school holiday program. The performance and workshop offered gentle, poetic explorations of migration, identity and friendship through shadow puppetry and storytelling. Both sessions were fully booked and the response from families was overwhelmingly positive. Parents found the work moving and loved the ways their children connected with the story. Children were deeply engaged with the narrative and thrilled to create their own puppets afterwards. The workshop drew everyone – children and adults of all ages - into a beautifully balanced space of shared creative play. We highly recommend Kiki and Zuki to any presenter seeking thoughtful, beautiful, poetic reflections on cultural programming for intergenerational audiences.."
Abbotsford Convent - April 2025