Miguel de Senna Fernandes, Playwright and Director
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 32 years of existence. A strong supporter of Patuá as a language unifying the Macanese community, he is a serious researcher of the creole language. Miguel believes that theatre remains the most effective way in spreading and sparking people’s interest in patuá, especially during a time when the language is clearly facing significant challenges.
Miguel was awarded the Medal of Merit in Culture by the Macao Government in 1999, and distinguished by the Portuguese Republic with the ‘Comendador’ of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator (Cultural Merit) in 2005. In 2024, he received the Medal of Merit for Culture from the Macao SAR Government. He was responsible for the candidacy of Patuá Theatre to be listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Macao and China. Most recently, he was awarded the title of national representative transmitter for Patuá Theatre.
Sérgio Perez, Video Director
Macao-born 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 and local film and advertisement festivals. Since 2005, Sérgio has been directing fictional short films for Dóci Papiaçám 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 the first steps to bring a show to the 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 32-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 at 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 patrons and other communities becoming increasingly noticeable. This clearly illustrates the growing interest in Macaísta humour, or Macanese humour, that the group has been fostering.
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 and lasted until 2005. Though the plays continued along a 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.
The third phase began in 2006 and lasted until 2015. The extensive use of multimedia and video productions as a complement to the show has transformed the group’s image in the realm of entertainment. It is also in this phase where thematic changes could be witnessed: plots are based on everyday situations, about daily anxieties. With this, the group has revived the traditional aspect of Macanese theatre, which includes 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.
32 years of humour was also a time of great friendship and collective learning. Many people engaged with the group, some of them are actually pursuing artistic careers.
But above all, their contribution enhances the understanding and appreciation of the Macaísta culture. Today, when we discuss and study the Macanese phenomenon and its language at an academic level, much of it is influenced by the works presented by Dóci Papiaçám di Macau. The company is also designated as the protective 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.
Mariana Antunes, Actress (as Nelita)
Mariana was born in Coimbra, Portugal, and moved to Macao in 2018. She is currently a Year 7 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, Actress (as Mónica)
Born in Macao, Ariel is of Portuguese and Chinese descent, a true Macanese. Currently a Year 6 student at the Macao Portuguese School, she has always had a passion for performance and acting. At just five years old, she made her debut in a short video by Dóci Papiaçám di Macau in 2018. After that experience, she became more enthusiastic about performing, which led to more participations in filming, speaking Patuá, Cantonese, English and Portuguese. She officially took part in a performance of Patuá theatre for the first time in 2024.
Ângela Ramos, Actress (as Lucila)
Ângela is a kindergarten teacher who always had a passion for theatre. She first joined Dóci Papiaçám di Macau 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.
Aleixo Siqueira, Actor (as Alipo)
Aleixo is a volunteer at the Macau Red Cross. He loves Patuá and has been in the Dóci Papiaçám di Macau since 2012, to which he devotes himself enthusiastically. This is his fourteenth performance with the group.
Rita Cabral, Actress (as Celestina)
A retired employee of the Macao 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 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, Actress (as Clementina)
A co-founder of the Dóci Papiaçám di Macau, 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 Dóci 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 was also in Malaysia for the opening of the Macau Gallery.
João Picanço, Actor (as Semedo)
João is a journalist, born in Águeda, Portugal, where he studied and worked as a sports journalist. He came to live in Macao eight years ago and is now working at TDM. Invited by Miguel Senna Fernandes, João joined the Dóci Papiaçám di Macau. Now that he already understands most of the Patuá language he simply has to learn to speak it and to act.
José Carion Júnior, Actor (as Ubaldino)
José has been performing with Dóci Papiaçám di Macau for many years and he believes that this journey provides a continuous learning experience. Although each performance takes a long time to rehearse, he is always happy to hear the applause and laughter of the audience.
Agurtzane Azpiazu Cordeiro, Actress (as Dauriza)
Agurtzane participated in a play by Dóci Papiaçám di Macau for the first time in 1999 and returned to the stage in 2019, which she was really happy for. She shares a close bond with her maternal grandparents and great-uncles, and she fondly remembers hearing Patuá spoken as a daily language at home.
Paula C. P. Carion, Actress (as Marília)
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 for nearly 20 years and has never missed a single performance, whether acting on stage or taking on various roles behind the scenes, typically working with the surtitles, which are an essential element of the production.
Gabriel Mendonça, Actor (as Long Sio)
Hong Kong born Macanese, Gabriel first participated in Dóci Papiaçám’s video productions back in 2013. After his stage debut last year, he will be making a comeback at the Patuá theatre.
Leon Lou Pui Leong, Actor (as Mr Ip)
Leon has been operating his own media production company for years and was a member of the Hiu Kok Drama Association. He primarily focused on backstage activities, but in recent years has frequently taken the stage to perform in government promotional, training, and educational videos, and has also served as a guest host on TDM’s programmes. He first joined Dóci Papiaçám di Macau in 2004 in a guest appearance, and has participated in the annual Patuá theatre ever since.
Ray Cheang Sin Hou, Actor (as Mr Man)
Ray is an experienced theatre actor and is currently a member of the Hiu Kok Drama and Macao Culture and Art associations. He has also participated in various Patuá theatre performances since the late 1990s, including A Shot in the Dark, The Mermaid Club, A Tea for a Dream and Caravaland. In recent years, he has also performed in other productions including The Basement and The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, by the Macao Culture and Art Association.
Joana Freitas, Actress (as Selma)
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 sixth time she steps on stage with Dóci Papiaçám di Macau.
Eduardo Magalhães, Actor (as Panchito)
Curious and creative, the ten-year-old Eduardo has long been attracted to the world of theatre. For him, learning to act is not only a fun experience but also a chance to make new friends. That’s what happened when he made his stage debut in 2024, in the trilingual children’s play Vêm di volta pa jantâ. Born in Macao, with Macanese roots, he is delighted and grateful do dive into a new adventure in Patuá, this time with Dóci Papiaçám di Macau, with whom he has laughed so much on the other side, as a member of the audience.
Delmira Tcheong Gabriel, Actress (as Diana)
Ten-year-old Delmira was born in Macao, is currently a Year 5 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 Vêm di volta pa jantâ and Luz dentro de Nós (Light within Us), a ballet in the annual event of the Macao Conservatory’s School of Dance and a poetry recital at the Macao Portuguese School. As a Macanese, Delmira would like to learn Patuá to preserve her ancestral culture.
Teodora Tcheong Gabriel, Actress (as Josina)
Born in Macao, nine-year-old Teodora is a Year 4 student at the Macao Portuguese School, also a member of the school’s music group ORFF. She made her stage debut in the original play 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 of the language being on the verge of extinction, prompted her to learn it.
Francisca Paulo Covas, Actress (as Kika)
Born in Macao to a Macanese family, Francisca is a warm and friendly young lady. She never holds grudges and is always eager to lend a hand to those in need. With a passion for creativity, she enjoys exploring new ideas and learning new skills. She deeply cherishes her friends and family, who have always supported her from the very beginning. Her favourite interest is animals, particularly cats.
Joel Sousa Nunes, Actor (as Pom Pom)
Born and raised in Macao, Joel was invited to be the emcee in several school activities and has also participated in theatrical performances. He has always been interested in theatre and joined a show of Dóci Papiaçám di Macau for the first time in 2016. Since then, he has further developed his interest in theatre, continuing to practice his acting skills and learning Patuá.