The 35th Macao Arts Festival (MAF) will be held from 25 April to 31 May, presenting 15 selected programmes that include theatre, Chinese opera, dance, music and visual arts, with a stage production of “Life of Pi” to kick off this year’s festival, according to a press conference held at MGM Cotai yesterday.
Adapted from the best-selling novel by the same name, authored by Canadian Yann Martel, the “Life of Pi” production in the upcoming MAF combines cutting-edge stagecraft with astonishing puppetry, guiding the audience to explore the meaning of life and courage in three soul-stirring spectacular performances.
Organised by Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the festival this year will also feature “Tap Fado”, a performance that melds singing and dance to render the lost Fado dance “Fado Batido” of the early 20th century, and combines the affection of traditional Fado and the vivacity of tap dance, as well as “Food”, a solo theatrical show by Geoff Sobelle that features surreal and poetic scenes, inviting the audience to have an intimate dinner and explore the stories and meanings behind the food choices.
To highlight the theme “East-West Encounter, Asia in Harmony” of the programme “Culture City of East Asia 2025 – Macao, China”, the Macao Arts Festival endeavours to forge a cultural bond among the Culture Cities of East Asia through a series of artistic events. Among these is the production “Deling and Cixi”.
Jointly produced by top-notch teams from Beijing and Hong Kong, “Deling and Cixi” resurrects the intimate narratives of the Qing Dynasty court’s private chambers, with professional performers such as renowned actress Jiang Shan and actor Xiao Yuliang.
Other programmes include Cantonese Opera Concert “Unveiling Harmonious Voices” by Macao Chinese Orchestra (featuring Cantonese opera luminaries Zeng Xiaomin and first-class performer Wen Ruqing), Cantonese opera “The Mad Phoenix” by Foshan Cantonese Opera Troupe, original Japanese musical “Kiki’s Delivery Service” (adapted from the eponymous work by Eiko Kakuno), as well as “The Drum Shaman” by South Korea’s TAGO, which combines traditional drumming techniques with modern aesthetics in a pounding spectacle that makes a splash with the allure of Korean music.
Meanwhile, local art troupes will continue to shine this year, with festival regular Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group set to present their new comedy “What’s the Deal?”, showcasing the unique humour and cultural essence of “Patuá Theatre”, a national intangible cultural heritage item of Macau.
The Own Theatre, in collaboration with Hong Kong’s Free to Play Theatre, will present a clown show “Chris-mas Kingdom” that unveils social issues, bringing an unexpected Christmas miracle in the early summer of May for families with laughter and empathy, while “Let No One” by Spark Theatre Group explores the family stories related to caregivers and those under their care through black humour, unveiling the sorrows faced by the society’s underprivileged while probing into the possible ways to salvation, according to IC.
Furthermore, “RAVING．Vibration Z by Four Dimension Spatial will transform the black box theatre into a dance floor, dissecting the loneliness and desires of Generation Z through electronic music and contemporary dance, and inviting the audience to join a dance party.
This year, the “Performing Arts Gala” will once again be staged at Iao Hon Market Park for three consecutive nights, presenting a variety of shows in both traditional to contemporary genres, including physical theatre, puppetry, street dance in Chinese styles, interactive dance theatre, children’s play and street theatre by local and international art troupes.
In addition, an interactive installation entitled “Cave of Sounds” will be exhibited at Tap Seac Gallery for a month, while an exhibition titled “New Perspectives: Modern and Contemporary Works from the Macao Museum of Art” will display nearly 100 pieces of modern and contemporary artworks, including watercolour, oil painting and ink art.
Meanwhile, this year’s festival will also feature 33 outreach activities, covering meet-the-artist sessions, backstage tours, pre-show talks, lectures, workshops and screenings of international stage performances, aiming to expand the audience’s artistic imagination beyond the stage and share the beauty of arts, according to IC.
The 35th MAF is supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), TDM, Air Macau and MGM.
Yesterday’s press conference (pictured) was attended by IC President Leong Wai Man, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, TDM Executive Member Un Weng Kuai, Air Macau Vice President Zhang Yun, MGM China Holdings President and Executive Director Kenneth Feng, IC Vice President Cheang Kai Meng, IC Acting Vice President Choi Kin Long, as well as representatives of the participating art groups.
Tickets to the 35th MAF will be on sale simultaneously through the Macau Ticketing outlets, hotlines and websites from 10 am on 22 March, with various discounts available for different periods of purchase and different criteria.
For more information about the festival, including the programmes and outreach activities, visit the MAF’s official page on IC’s website or the ticketing hotline at 2840 0555. (Gilbert Humphrey)
Photos: Good News Macau/Gilbert Humphrey, GNM Network
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