A Star is Arriving

Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group

11-12/5
Saturday, Sunday
20:00
Grand Auditorium, Macao Cultural Centre

Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one interval
Performed in Patuá, with surtitles in Chinese, Portuguese and English

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

Playwright and Director: Miguel de Senna Fernandes
Set Design: Patrícia Emmanuel Mendes Khan
Stage Manager: Dolores Chan Hio Hong
Wardrobe: Nair Cardoso and Ana Cardoso
Props and Backstage Crew: Alexandre Lebel, Dolores Chan Hio Hong, Ernesto Mendonça, Francisco Conceição, Marina de Senna Fernandes, Palmiro Jorge do Rosário, Sharon Chan Pui San, Violeta Maria Couto do Rosário and Xenos Lam Weng Chio
Lighting and Sound: Daniel de Senna Fernandes, Manuel de Jesus and Mike Chan
Administration: Paula C. P. Carion
Translation and Surtitles: Anabela Ritchie and Paula C. P. Carion
Music, Lyrics and Music Arrangements: Miguel de Senna Fernandes and Gabriel Mendonça
Photography: Leonor Rosário

Multimedia and Photomontage
Concept: Miguel de Senna Fernandes and Sérgio Perez
Video Production:
Director: Sérgio Perez
Production Coordinators: Elisabela Larrea, Francisco Conceição and Isabela Pedruco
Motion Graphic Design: Vítor Morais Lau
Participation (In alphabetical order): Adriano Gaspar, André Ritchie, Antonio Lobo Viela, Augusto da Cruz Ramos Fernandes, Carlos Alberto Anok Cabral, Cristina Maria de Sousa, Daniel Delgado Souza, Dolores Chan, Ernesto Mendonça, Eunice da Silva Pedruco Comandante, Fátima Lao Gomes, Fernando Lourenço, Filipe Luís Chan, Filipe Miguel da Silva Ferreira, Francisco Jorge Matos Conceição, Gabriel Mendonça, Giulio Acconci, Herman do Lago Comandante, Idan Oane Marques Chon, Isabel Rosa Duque Sousa Nunes, Isabela Madeira da Silva Pedruco, Izara Oane Marques Chon, Joel Sousa Nunes, José Basto da Silva, José Maria Roque Lobato de Faria e Silva, José Reis Pereira, José Sousa Nunes, Judith Antunes, Leonor Bastos O, Luis Miguel Francisco O, Machi Chon, Mariana Barra e Antunes, Marina de Senna Fernandes, Palmiro Jorge do Rosário, Rita Cabral, Sara Bastos O, Sharoz Permencar, Sónia Palmer, Vera Bastos and Vítor Manuel Morais Lau
Production Crew: Adriano Gaspar, Dolores Chan, Elisabela Larrea, Ernesto Mendonça, Francisco Jorge Matos Conceição, Isabela Pedruco, José Sousa Nunes, Marina de Senna Fernandes, Miguel Rego Lopes and Vítor Manuel Morais Lau
Make-up: Isabela Pedruco
Subtitles: Elisabela Larrea, Francisco Conceição and Sérgio Perez
Acknowledgements: Acácio de Brito, Associação dos Macaenses, Associação Promotora da Instrução dos Macaenses, Casa de Portugal em Macau, Macao Portuguese School and Pousada de Coloane

Characters and Cast

(In order of appearance)
Presenter: Paula C. P. Carion
Tourist: Kelsey Wilhelm
Rita: Rita Cabral
Sónia: Sónia Palmer
Chi Iong: Leon Lou Pui Leong
Seong Chuen: Gabriel Mendonça
Giselda: Agurtzane Azpiazu Cordeiro
Bé: Eunice Comandante
Délia: Ângela Ramos
Mariana: Mariana Antunes
Olívia: Ariel Mendonça
Elvira: Joana Freitas
Mina: Delmira Tcheong Gabriel
Nina: Teodora Tcheong Gabriel
James: Herman Comandante
Devina: Isabela Pedruco
Jerry: José Luís Pedruco Achiam
Pucho: Aleixo Siqueira
Janeca: Joel Sousa Nunes
Meno: José Carion Júnior
Gáncho: Armando Ritchie

Extras (in alphabetical order)
Alexandre Lebel, Dolores Chan Hio Hong, Ernesto Mendonça, Francisco Conceição, Marina de Senna Fernandes, Palmiro Jorge do Rosário, Sharon Chan Pui San, Violeta Maria Couto do Rosário and Xenos Lam Weng Chio

Synopsis

Délia, a substitute drama teacher, and Giselda, a former gambling promoter on the verge of poverty, see their lives intersect when the teacher accepts the seemingly childish challenge of getting a shy, stuttering girl on stage. This challenge becomes a public bet that Giselda desperately wants to promote. If, for her, this is a new chance in life, for the teacher it represents an act of courage that she has never experienced in her life.

About Patuá

Patuá (Patois) or língu maquista (language of Macao) is a creole derived mainly from archaic Portuguese, mixing words from several languages, including Malay, Spanish and English. It is believed that this creole came into existence in mid-17^th century. From the 19^th century, Cantonese undoubtedly had a decisive influence in the formation of new words and idiomatic expressions.

Used primarily in a limited environment, such as within the neighbourhood or among the family, Patuá began to dwindle when it came to be regarded as badly spoken Portuguese – and a reason for social contempt.

However, língu maquista remained in the female world, as women, by traditional standards, spent most of their time at home – there wasn’t a need to socialise with others. This may be the explanation why some people refer to this creole as “the women’s language”.

Although the use of Patuá declined, it was still spoken – it became the language of mockery and cursing, a medium for social criticism, the voice of the people against those in power. And it was in the theatrical world where the língu maquista regained its ground, making people laugh, and revealing raw, naked truths.

Biographical Notes

Miguel de Senna Fernandes, Playwright, Director, Music, Lyrics and Music Arrangement

A lawyer and notary by profession, co-founder of Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group, self-taught in performing arts, and a former actor, Miguel has written and directed nearly all the group’s works during its 31 years of existence. A strong supporter of Patuá as a language unifying the Macanese community, he is a serious researcher of the dialect. In 2001, with the collaboration of Professor Alan Baxter, he published Maquista Chapado, a glossary on the dialect of Macao. Miguel believes that theatre remains the most effective way in spreading and sparking people’s interest in the dialect. He was responsible for the candidacy of Patuá Theatre to be listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Macao and China.

Sérgio Perez, Video Director

Macao-born director and filmmaker, Sérgio graduated from the School of Arts of the Portuguese Catholic University. He now works as a commercial director and screenwriter. His work has been showcased and highlighted in various Portuguese short film festivals and local film festivals. Since 2005, Sérgio has been directing fictional short films for Doci Papiáçam di Macau Drama Group.

Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group

On 30 October 1993, a group of enthusiasts began a project that was not thought to have continuity. Under the motto “Revival for Survival”, Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group took its first steps in putting a show on stage. It was sheer courage – no one had any artistic training, but nothing discouraged the spirit and enthusiasm of the group. “Do first, learn later” may have been the first words of order that dictated a 31-year course.

From its very first Patuá performance Olâ Pisidenti (“See the President”), which was staged in a small space at the symbolic Dom Pedro V Theatre in 1993, to this day in the Grand Auditorium of the Macao Cultural Centre, the group has reached an increasingly larger and diversified audience. In the beginning, Patuá plays were designed exclusively for the Macanese and Portuguese communities; nowadays, they are directed to the general public, with Chinese audience and an audience of other nationalities becoming increasingly noticeable. This demonstrates very well the growing interest of Macaísta humour, or Macanese humour, that the group has been providing.

There have been four phases in the group’s journey. The first and most remarkably nostalgic phase was between 1993 and 1999, when plays were performed along the traditional ways of the past, in which the memory of late José “Adé” dos Santos Ferreira was well present.

The second phase began in 2000 until 2005. Though the plays continued along the nostalgic line, the group revolutionised its performances with the introduction of Chinese elements. It was the first time that Cantonese was heard in a Patuá play, as well as the very beginning of the use of surtitles in theatre in Macao.

The third phase began in 2006 until 2015. The full use of multimedia and video productions as a complement to the show has introduced a new image for the group in the art of entertainment. It is also in this phase where thematic changes could be witnessed: plots are based on everyday situations, about daily anxieties. And with this, the group has recovered the typical facet of the Macaísta theatre, that is scorn and social criticism.

And from 2016 onwards, the group reached a new level with the inclusion of musical elements, kicking off a fourth phase. Original music composed especially for the shows completed the traditional Macanese theatre: a satirical comedy with music.

31 years of humour was also a time of great friendship and collective learning. Many people have taken part in the group, some of them are actually pursuing an artistic career.

But above all, it is their contribution to the greater knowledge and interest in the Macaísta culture. Today, when we speak of and study at an academic level, of the Macanese phenomenon and its language, much of it has to do with what Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group has put on stage. The group is also appointed as the protection unit for the Patuá theatre, which was inscribed on the National List of Representative Elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China in 2021.

“Patuá remains the soul of the group, and Macao its raison d’être” continues to be a motto so noble and so true to the group.

Cast

Paula C. P. Carion as Presenter

Born and raised in Macao, Paula is a former karate athlete, winner of numerous medals for our city. She first encountered Patuá as a toddler and now works in a language-related field – as a professional translator and interpreter. Paula has been in the Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group for 18 years and has never missed a single performance – whether acting on stage or participating in other positions behind the scenes, normally working with the surtitles, an essential part of the performance.

Kelsey Wilhelm as Tourist

An American born in Malaysia who has been calling Macao home for over 20 years, Kelsey is an actor and musician. He is a founding member of the band Concrete/Lotus and stars in the upcoming film The Violin Case. He was a student at the Macao Portuguese School and currently works as a business journalist and editor. Kelsey is also working on several film scripts and fiction books. He has been one of the elements working behind the scenes with Dóci Papiaçám and this year is the first time he will be stepping onto the stage with the group.

Rita Cabral as Rita

A retired employee of the Macau Post, Rita is a swimming and gymnastics enthusiast, and also a renowned cook of Macanese food. She has lived with Patuá since childhood and joined Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group in 2006. She performed in the play Vila Paraíso (“Paradise Village”) in the same year, and has subsequently participated in all the performances of the group.

Sónia Palmer as Sónia

A co-founder of the Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group, Sónia is crucial to its organisation. Her first acting experience in Patuá was Olá Pisidente (“See the President”) in 1993 and has since then appeared in Doci Papiaçám di Macau’s several other productions. She has participated in the Group’s tours to San Francisco (USA), São Paulo (Brazil), Porto and Lisbon (Portugal), and also in Malaysia for the opening of “Macau Gallery”.

Leon Lou Pui Leong as Chi Iong

Leon has been operating his own media production company for years and was a member of the Hiu Kok Drama Association. He participated mainly in backstage activities, and in recent years comes on scene frequently to perform in government promotional videos, training and educational videos, as well as being a guest host in TDM’s programmes. He first joined Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group in 2004 when he made a guest appearance, and has participated in the annual Patuá theatre since then.

Gabriel Mendonça as Seong Chuen

Hong Kong born Macanese, Gabriel first participated in Dóci Papiaçám’s video productions back in 2013. This will be his debut on the stage of Patuá theatre.

Agurtzane Azpiazu Cordeiro as Giselda

Agurtzane participated in a play by Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group for the first time in 1999 and returned to the stage in 2019, which she was really happy for. She has a close relationship with her maternal grandparents and their brother and sisters, and still remembers listening to Patuá as a language used every day at home.

Eunice Comandante as Bé

Twelve-year-old Eunice is a student at the Macao Portuguese School. She loves drawing, reading and watching TV.

Ângela Ramos as Délia

Ângela is a kindergarten teacher who always had a passion for theatre. She first joined Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group in 1999, when she debuted in Dále Cinco (“Gimme Five”), and subsequently in Pápi Tá Ferado (“Dad’s in Trouble”), Siara Zinha (“Zinha”), amongst others.

Mariana Antunes as Mariana

Mariana was born in Coimbra, Portugal, and moved to Macao in 2018. She is currently a Primary 6 student at the Macao Portuguese School and represents the school in various cultural activities. Mariana loves theatre, poetry recital, dancing, reading, drawing, and spending good times with family and friends.

Ariel Mendonça as Olívia

Born in Macao, Ariel is of Portuguese and Chinese descent, a true Macanese. Currently a Primary 5 student at the Macao Portuguese School, she has always shown interest in performances and acting, and participated for the first time in a short video by Dóci Papiaçám di Macau in 2018, when she was just five years old. After that experience, she became more enthusiastic about performing, which led to more participations in filming, speaking Patuá, Cantonese, English and Portuguese. She took part in a performance of Patuá theatre for the first time in 2023.

Joana Freitas as Elvira

Born in Porto, Portugal, Joana first came to Macao in 2010. A practitioner of Chinese martial arts for more than a decade, she attended the Beijing Sport University and finally graduated in Journalism, having worked as both a journalist and an editor. Joana is also the lead singer of the Macao local band Concrete/Lotus. This is the fifth time she steps on a theatre stage with Dóci Papiaçám di Macau.

Delmira Tcheong Gabriel as Mina

Nine-year-old Delmira was born in Macao, is currently a Primary 4 student at the Macao Portuguese School and a member of the school’s music group ORFF. Her recent performances include starring in the original play Luz dentro de Nós (“Light within Us”), a ballet dance in the annual event of the School of Dance of the Macao Conservatory and a poetry recitation at the Macao Portuguese School. As a Macanese, Delmira would like to learn Patuá to preserve Macanese Culture.

Teodora Tcheong Gabriel as Nina

Born in Macao, eight-year-old Teodora is a Primary 3 student at the Macao Portuguese School, and is also a member of the school’s music group ORFF. She made her debut on stage in the play of the original story Luz dentro de Nós (“Light within Us”) as a main character and performed in Patuá. For Teodora, Patuá is a very unique language, and the fact that it is on the verge of extinction, prompted her to learn this Macanese creole.

Herman Comandante as James

Herman is a fan of traveling, photography, and of course, theatre. He debuted on Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group’s stage in 2005 in the play A Mermaid from Heaven, and subsequently participated in What’s Up, Doc?, Sweet Luck, Right, Mr. Counsellor!, Yummy, It’s Good!, Oh, Panda Mia!, Spooky Doo and Boss for a Day.

Isabela Pedruco as Devina

Isabela has been on Dóci Papiaçám’s stage various times, as well as its video production. Born and raised in Macao, she had always been an audience member of the group, before accepting the invitation to debut in the Patuá Theatre. She now runs her own business, but keeps dedicating her free time, taking part in the group’s projects in the annual Macao Arts Festival. For her, Patuá theatre is more than just being with friends, it’s a way to keep the sweet Macanese language alive.

José Luís Pedruco Achiam as Jerry

José Luís returned home to Macao in 2006 after receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and Social Science in Sydney. He has been enthusiastically preserving Patuá and the Macanese culture by participating in Dóci Papiaçam’s stage performances, producing music videos and singing in them. He takes pride in being a Macanese, passionate about his contribution and promotion of Patuá Theatre.

Aleixo Siqueira as Pucho

Aleixo is a volunteer at the Macau Red Cross. He loves Patuá and has been in the Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group since 2012, to which he devotes himself enthusiastically. This is his thirteenth performance with the group this year.

Joel Sousa Nunes as Janeca

Born and raised in Macao, Joel was invited to be the emcee in several school activities and has also participated in theatre performances. Joel has always been interested in theatre and participated in a performance of Dóci Papiaçam di Macau Drama Group for the first time in 2016. Since then, he has further developed his interest in theatre, continuing to train his acting skills and learning Patuá.

José Carion Júnior as Meno

José has been performing with Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group for many years and he believes that it is a never-ending learning experience. Although each performance takes a long time to rehearse, he is always happy to hear the applause and laughter of the audience.

Armando Ritchie as Gáncho

Born in Macao and emigrated to Brazil in 1972, Armando retired and returned to Macao. He was a founding member of Casa de Macau in São Paulo and has been involved in various social activities, as well as promoting Macanese culture and cuisine. Armando was elected President of Casa de Macau in São Paulo from 2000 to 2002. He is a keen sportsman, with a particular interest in field hockey. He is also one of the founders of the local band The Thunders.

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.