Impression of Iec Long

The Funny Old Tree Theatre Ensemble

30/5-2/6
Thursday to Sunday
20:00
Former Iec Long Firecracker Factory

Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, without interval
Performed in Cantonese and Mandarin, without surtitles
Restricted to audiences aged 13 or above

Please switch off all sound and light-emitting devices. Unauthorised photography or recording of any kind is strictly prohibited. Thank you for cooperating.

Artistic Team

Director and Playwright: Un Iat Hou
Historical Consultant: Albert Lai Hung Kin
Data Collection and Dramaturgy: Ng Ka Wai and Ku Ieng Un
Producer: Sun Cheng Kei
Choreography: Ng Wai San
Puppetry Instructor: Chuan Duan Feng
Actors: Leong Chin Hong (as Ah Tim), Chen Lin Qiang*, Chen Ye*, Liu Jun Jie*, Zhu Jia Hui*, Lin Li Li* and Chen Ke Zhu*
Stiltwalkers: Cheng Le Le*, Jing Dong Dong*, Li Jia Hao* and Guo Dong Quan*
Dancers: Ieong Wun Ian, Lo Sut Kei, Mui Hio Lam and Chio Sut Teng
Puppet Performers and Makers: Cai Jia Jie and Lin Xiao Ran
Technical Director: Lio Weng Chon
Deputy Stage Manager: Lam Hoi Weng
Lighting Design and Control: Lam Yuen Ling
Sound Effects and Music Design Consultant: Lau Chi Keong
Sound Coordinator: Ao Kin Long
Sound Effect Design and Control: Vong Hok Hei
Sound Design and Control: Lei Man Tek

* With kind support from Xiamen PUPA Studio and Xiamen Academy for Performing Arts

Synopsis

Following a rapid development in the 1920s, firecrackers became a leading industry in Macao. On 12 March 1981, an explosion at Iec Long Firecracker Factory caused six deaths, seemingly sounding the death knell for Macao’s firecracker industry.

Inspired by the book Yick Loong Fireworks Factory, this environmental theatre production will lead the audience to revisit the past, envisioning the history, re-examining the city’s social evolution. Reflecting on the self-identity of local people, the piece recreates the historical site through a combination of diverse performing elements, including drama, dance, stilt walking, and Quanzhou puppetry.

Prologue　　Narration of the deceased
Scene I 　　Home (dance)
Scene II　　One foot in the grave (stilts)
Scene III　　Far from home (puppetry)
Scene IV　　Melancholy (drama)
Scene V　　Human efforts count (integrated performance)
Scene VI　　Reunion dinner
Scene VII　　Foreigners
Scene VIII　　Explosion
Scene IX　　Impression

Director’s Notes

The firecracker industry represents a glorious time in Macao’s history. From the preliminary data collection to the interview with Albert Lai Hung Kin, history is reflected in a grand blueprint in which “Made in Macau” products were sold overseas as far as San Francisco and Switzerland. Meticulously handcrafted by Macao people, the firecracker strings used to spread joy and laughter thousands of miles away from home, bursting into a resounding reputation. It was home-made vitality displayed by Macao people with their bare hands.

To this date, the firecracker industry has found its place in history books and on the list of cultural heritage, transformed into a tourist attraction, as a “traditional handicraft of Macao”. Time has passed, and the glorious years when people lived merely on the merit of their bare hands have been forgotten. By staging this performance, I hope to lead the audience into a dream where they can relive local pride.

Impression of Iec Long not only conveys my admiration for Macao’s handicraft industry, but also attempts to evoke a sense of pride among the audience. Beyond the vibrant neon lights, Macao is also home to many diligent people who silently contribute to the city’s prosperity. I have merged these sentiments into the play with the hope of passing down the splendour of this industry.

By Un Iat Hou

Biographical Notes

Un Iat Hou, Director and Playwright

Graduated from the Department of Jing Ju at the Taiwan College of Performing Arts, Un currently serves as the creative director of Gugumelo Arts Education, programme director of Macao Peking Opera Promotion Base, theatre advisor of Four Dimension Spatial, and residential director of The Funny Old Tree Theatre Ensemble. His works include the theatre Back to Felicidade for the Rua da Felicidade Pedestrian Zone Project; and Chow T. House, an innovative intangible heritage puppetry show.

Albert Lai Hung Kin, Historical Consultant

Born in Taipa in the early 1950s, Lai started collating the historical records of people’s life in the island in 2004 and has been actively studying the history of its firecracker industry. He has established the Taipa History and Culture Research Association in collaboration with the island’s population and has published five works related to Taipa after unremittingly conducting interviews and collecting old photographs and data.

Ng Ka Wai, Data Collection and Dramaturgy

Ng is a member of Hiu Kok Drama Association and Macao Youth Repertory Theatre and founder of the Brotherhood Art Association. With the sponsorship of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ng completed the Master’s programme in Performing Arts from the Department of Drama at the Taiwan University of Arts in 2019, and is currently an actor, playwright and director. His works include Café 22ºN and Chun Su Mei.

Ku Ieng Un, Data Collection and Dramaturgy

Ku, who also goes by stage name Ze, is an actor, director and performance instructor. He graduated from the Theatre Training and Research Programme (Traditional Asian Theatre) in Singapore and concluded a Master’s programme in Playwriting (Directing) from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. He has been active in the theatre scene since the 1990s and has served as a director for various events such as the Macao International Parade.

Sun Cheng Kei, Producer

Sun graduated from the first full-time Dance Technique Programme of the Macao Conservatory School of Dance in 2010 and in the same year furthered her studies in Art Communication on Public Affairs Management (at the direction of Chinese and foreign cultural exchange and management) at Beijing Dance Academy with an Academic Research Grant offered by the Cultural Affairs Bureau. After graduation, Sun has been actively engaging in dance and theatre performances in Macao, as well as administrative and backstage work.

Ng Wai San, Choreography

Ng graduated from the full-time Dance Technique Programme (Chinese dance) at the Macao Conservatory School of Dance in 2009 and from the Choreography and Directing Programme (Chinese Dance) from Beijing Dance Academy in 2014. She then went on to join Ieng Chi Dance Association and is now a core member of the company and the principal of Ieng Chi Dance Education Centre, where she engages in choreography and dance education.

Chuan Duan Feng, Puppetry Instructor

Chuan is a national first class performer, representative heir of the intangible cultural heritage “Quanzhou marionette puppetry”, and member of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette, China Puppetry and Shadow Arts Association, and Chinese Opera Association. Over the 45 years of her artistic career, she has performed in many productions at home and abroad and developed her unique style of puppetry performance and design.

Leong Chin Hong, Actor (as Ah Tim)

Active in theatre, film, television and on social media platforms. His recent works include Sunset at the Shipyards, Someone in “Outlaws of the Marsh”, Café 22ºN, Dreamers Go Go VIII – Trigger The Musical, Stephen Chow, Nothing Like a Triangle, 2×1.5, Nine Soundscapes, The Pillowman and Cyrano de Bergerac.

Cai Jia Jie, Puppet Performer and Maker

Cai was a distinguished graduate from the Shanghai Theatre Academy and a recipient of the National Encouragement Scholarship. She has won the Gold Prize in the solo performance category at an international puppetry festival in Turkey and an award at a theatre festival in Seoul, South Korea. Besides, Cai has been invited to star in the marionette version of The Taming of the Shrew at a Shakespeare festival in the United Kingdom, and performed at a puppetry art festival in Poland.

Lin Xiao Ran, Puppet Performer and Maker

Lin was a distinguished graduate in performance (puppetry) from the Shanghai Theatre Academy and a recipient of the National Encouragement Scholarship. She has won the Gold Prize in the solo performance category at an international puppetry festival in Turkey and the Outstanding Performance Award at the 7^th Fujian Arts Festival. Lin has participated in a Shakespeare festival in the United Kingdom and a puppetry art festival in Poland.

Lio Weng Chon, Technical Director

Lio graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Theatre and Entertainment Arts from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2012. He has served as a technical director, technical coordinator, lighting designer, lighting programmer, video and visual designer for large performances, and among his recent productions are the Macau International Comedy Festival and The Prime Classics Hins Cheung Live in Macao.

Lam Hoi Weng, Deputy Stage Manager

A graduate from the Department of Drama at the Taiwan University of Arts, Lam has mainly worked as a stage manager and deputy stage manager and engaged in set, space, graphic and illustration design in recent years. Among her productions and design works are Made by Beauty, Jacques and His Master, The Walk-in Family, and Portrait.

Lam Yuen Ling, Lighting Design and Control

Lam graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Theatre and Entertainment Arts from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. She has worked as a lighting designer and programmer for major performances including the Macau International Comedy Festival, The Prime Classics Hins Cheung Live in Macao, and the Star-Studded Ballet Gala—Macao Orchestra New Year Concert 2024.

Lau Chi Keong, Sound Effects and Music Design Consultant

Born in Macao, Lau is a graduate of Middlesex University with a major in Audio Production. He has been the drummer of WhyOceans since his school years, performing in various music festivals in the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. In 2022, he was nominated for Best Sound Effects at the Golden Horse Awards.

Ao Kin Long, Sound Coordinator

Ao is a full-time sound technician. He returned to Macao after graduating from the Metalworks Institute in Canada and has been working across the fields of film, theatre, and live music. He has participated in the production of The Sublime Progressions, Sing a Song of Mine, I Want to Be a Plastic Chair, and Falling into Water.

Vong Hok Hei, Sound Effect Design and Control

Vong graduated from the Department of Advertising at the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan and has a passion for creating various genres of music. He has participated in the production of The Frogs Who Desired a King, AMIDST – Solo interactive space, 2x1.5, and Falling into Water, and his recent works include AMIDST – Solo sensory exploration and arts delivery 3.0: to be confirmed.

Lei Man Tek, Sound Design and Control

Lei has over 10 years of sound design experience and is dedicated to authentically restoring and accurately conveying sounds to the audience. Among his productions is Falling into Water. He is currently working as the audio engineer for the band Nevermind.

Disclaimer
The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government provides liaison and technical support to the project only. Any views/opinions expressed by the project team are those of the project only and do not reflect the views of the Cultural Affairs Bureau.