The 29th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, themed “Origin”, symbolising the “spring of life”, will be held from 27 April to 31 May. Tickets will be available through the Macau Ticketing Network from 10am on 11 March (Sunday). For the convenience of the public, queuing vouchers will be distributed from 9am, while telephone and online bookings are available from 12pm on the same day.
This edition of the MAF offers excellent productions from abroad, Mainland China and Macao. The Festival kicks off with the performance Das Kapital by the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, a new version of Karl Marx’s great classic, incorporating Macao’s elements and illustrating the duality of capital by making use of black humour, and closes with 13 Tongues, a captivating dance, music and folklore show by internationally renowned dance group Cloud Gate 2. Contemporary Japanese playwright Tadashi Suzuki presents his adaptation of The Trojan Women showcasing the misery and desolation of Japan in the post-war period; while renowned Belgian group Peeping Tom presents the physical theatre play 32 Rue Vandenbranden, which incorporates movements of daily life in the dance. The MAF commissioned Singaporean group Nine Years Theatre the co-production of the play Pissed Julie a play featuring an ironic approach. The event also features fascinating local performances: the Dirks Theatre Arts Association, in collaboration with renowned Irish director, presents their adaptation of The Night just before the Forest by famed French playwright Bernard-Marie Koltès; the play Sunset at the Shipyards by Dream Theatre Association tells the history of the local shipbuilding industry; the documentary theatre Migration by the Macau Experimental Theatre featuring Indonesian artist and migrant workers; and the dance performance Les Curious Fringes – Blast of the Cave presented by local choreographer Tracy Wong; and numerous family programmes such as Sponge, When All Was Green, In Search of Memory, Infinita and the Performing Arts Gala, cater for people all ages to take part in the Festival.
Various types of discounts are offered in this edition of the MAF. Tickets for the 29th MAF will be available at the Macau Ticketing Network from 10am on 11 March (Sunday). Reservations can be made by phone or online from 12pm onwards on the same day. On the first day of ticket sales, each person can purchase a maximum of ten tickets per performance, except for the experimental play Parasomnia, which is limited to four tickets per person, and Sponge, which is limited to a maximum of 2 Children Packages and 2 Observer tickets per performance per person, with special ticket arrangements. Early bird discount of 30%, subject to certain criteria, will be available from 11 to 18 March and a 20% discount will be offered from 19 March. Members of the public who purchase their tickets with a BOC Credit Card and BOC Card are entitled to receive a 30% discount on tickets for the opening and closing performances Das Kapital and 13 Tongues, as well as a 20% discount for all other shows. A 20% discount on tickets for all shows is also available for purchasers with Mastercard, Visa Card or UnionPay Cards from ICBC (Macau), BCM Bank, OCBC Wing Hang Bank and Tai Fung Bank. A 50% discount will also be offered to holders of Macao Senior Citizen Card or Disability Assessment Registration Card, limited to one ticket per person. For each purchase over MOP800 (net price after discount), purchasers will receive one discount voucher to enjoy exclusive offers at selected shops at MGM (available while stocks last). Air Macau customers can enjoy a 20% discount on ticket purchases at the ticketing outlets by presenting the respective boarding pass (flight code NX) within 7 days upon their arrival in Macao.
For more information about the programmes, ticket purchase and other discounts, please check the 29th Macao Arts Festival Booklet (the booklet PDF version can be downloaded at: www.icm.gov.mo/fam); follow the MAF’s page on Facebook or subscribe to IC’s WeChat account. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. Online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com.
Photo credit: La Strada Graz