Birds Are Real, Ambushed From Ten Directions is a dynamic twenty-minute performance that blends live percussion, piano, and shadow puppetry. Inspired by the satirical “Birds Aren’t Real” conspiracy theory and the traditional Chinese pipa piece Ambush From Ten Directions, it envisions an ambush—not by weapons, but by fake news bombarding us from all sides. Footage from the Tung Hua Shadow Puppet Theater, combined with AI-generated imagery, explores the blurred line between reality and fiction, highlighting the growing threat of misinformation.

As the audience enters, they are greeted by a symphony of nature—bird calls and the soft rustling of leaves beneath their feet. Two actors holding "Birds Aren't Real" signs blur the lines of everyday reality. Under the gentle beam of a flashlight, a puppet undergoes a stunning metamorphosis, transforming into a phantom bird. As the music unfolds, the performance evokes the harmonious coexistence of humans and birds, painting the sky with dreams woven from the fabric of fairy tales. Yet, as modernity encroaches, the pursuit of these ethereal creatures becomes increasingly elusive amid the chaos of urban sprawl. In the final act, guided by the magic of the puppet master's hands, the haunting melody of migrating birds whispers in the stillness of the night, recalling nature's enduring mysteries and reminding us of the very real existence of birds.

Special thanks to Cin-Ty Lee, bird specialist and Professor of Geology, Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Rice University, for providing bird song recordings and his beautiful writing.

Written in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Shepherd School of Music, Birds Are Real, Ambushed From Ten Directions is partially funded by the Houston Arts Alliance and the Ministry of Culture (Taiwan) through the Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.