The 35th Macao Arts Festival opened on Friday with a ceremony at the Macao Cultural Centre, followed by the East Asian debut of the stage adaptation of Life of Pi – fresh from the theatres of Broadway in the US and London’s West End.
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Yann Martel, Life of Pi merges puppetry, state-of-the-art visuals and lighting design. It has won five highly-prestigious Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards.
While the play finished its short Macao run on Sunday night, audiences can look forward to many other highlights. Among them is the Macao Chinese Orchestra and Guangdong Cantonese Opera Institute’s joint concert, Unveiling Harmonious Voices, on 9 May at Broadway Theatre. Performers include the renowned Cantonese opera luminaries Zeng Xiaomin and Wen Ruqing.
[See more: Five Macao Arts Festival shows you don’t want to miss]
The day after, the Foshan Cantonese Opera Troupe is set to perform The Mad Phoenix at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, offering a modern interpretation of the life of playwright Kong Yu-Kau and “evoking the audience’s vivid memory of Lingnan culture,” according to statement from the festival’s organiser, the Cultural Affairs Bureau.
The festival runs until 31 May. This year’s line-up features 15 productions, covering theatre, Chinese opera, dance, music and visual arts. The festival period also includes 33 outreach events, including backstage tours, pre-show talks and workshops.
Tickets are on sale simultaneously through the Enjoy Macao ticketing outlets, hotlines and website.
