After the theme of “Time” in 2016, the Macao Arts Festival returns this year themed around “Heterotopia”, exploring the diverse possibilities of space and guiding audiences to look into the wonderful realm of dissimilar cultural spaces from different perspectives. Twenty-five excellent programmes have been planned for this iteration and categorised into 7 focuses, which include: Thematic Highlights; Groundbreakers; Cross-Disciplinary Creations; Family Entertainment; Quintessence of Tradition; Melodious Music; and Exhibitions. With programmes and various extended activities, more than 100 in all, the Festival not only aggregates the works of international masters, but also covers local creations. Together with various promotion activities of community arts, the programme is rich and diverse, opening the doors of perception to the infinite gems and wonders of art for the audience.
Play and Play: An Evening of Movement and Music – USA
The internationally acclaimed Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Company will present an inventive interpretation of classical music through its famous experimental works Story and Ravel: Landscape or Portrait?
8pm Friday April 28 / Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium
Westland Feuds – China
Adapted from a celebrated novel of magic realism that has been reproduced into plays, theatres and films for numerous times, this production by the Shaanxi People’s Art Theatre condenses the absurd yet realistic life onto the stage in a way true to the original novel with great attentions to details.
7:30pm, Friday & Saturday, May 12-13 / Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium
The Seagull – Iceland
The Seagull, one of Anton Chekhov’s repeatedly produced classical masterpieces, is presented by Lithuanian director Yana Ross, in collaboration with the Reykjavik City Theatre, with a new, modern and amazing take
7:30pm Saturday & Sunday, May 27-28 / Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium
Miss Revolutionary Idol Berserker – Japan
A mash-up of a high school musical, an extreme Japanese TV reality show, a cheesy pop video and an out-take from Les Misérables. Toco Nikaido, one of today’s most talked-about artists in Japan, is widely acclaimed for her overwhelming novelty and energy among the theatrical world.
8pm Friday – Saturday, 19 – 21 May / Old Court Building
Rusty Nails & Other Heroes – The Netherlands
In this wonderful children’s theatre, there is no need for words. Just follow the poetic visuals and joyful music, and enter a unique world of playfulness by TAMTAM objektentheater from the Netherlands
Friday to Saturday, 5 – 7 May / Macao Conservatory Auditorium
Stormy Luck – Macau
The Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group is presenting their annual masterpiece, where a group of local Macanese actors point out the social ills via sarcasm and condemnation in the local creole dialect Patuá.
8pm, Friday – Saturday, May 19 – 20 / Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium
Resonance through Space-Time
Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulovic, who possesses the talent of the “Devil’s Violinist” Paganini and the charm of a rock star, will join hands with the Spanish young conductor Jose Luis Gomez and the Macau Orchestra to take fans on a musical journey through time.
8pm, Tuesday May 23 / The Venetian Theatre
Debris – Works by Alexandre Farto aka Vhils
This first solo exhibition by Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto, also known as Vhils, in Macau encourages visitors to explore and reflect on the nature of the urban environment.
June 1 – November 5 Navy Yard No.1