26th Macau Arts Festival A Celebration of Life

The ‘Trust’ finale makes its grand Asian premiere at the Festival (Photo provided by Cultural Affairs Bureau)

This year's Festival - themed 'Encounter' and running from 1st to 31st May - presents 30 riveting performances and art exhibitions, totalling over 100 activities in all. A quick tour reveals that the Asian premiere of 'Lied Ballet' presented by the Centre chorégraphique national de Tours from France heralds the curtain-up, while the finale - 'Trust' presented by the Schaubühne am LehninerPlatz - also debuts here.

Local plays are well served by the award-winning 'Fateful Decision, Memory Blueprint II', and Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group's new play 'Macau's Got Talent' - local Patua theatre not only addresses hot social issues in a uniquely tongue-in-cheek way but is honoured as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Macau. The 'Jiangsu Kun Opera Theatre Performing Arts Group', the 'Macau Kaifong Cantonese Opera Juvenile's Troupe', and the 'Macau General Association of Cantonese Opera' serve up everything lovers of the genre could wish for, while Iao Hon Garden's 'Starlight Cinema' will screen outstanding international films. This year, the 'Outdoor Performing Arts Showcase' moves to Barra Square.

Several children's programmes encourage adults and kids to appreciate art together, with 'Dot' bringing the audience to a wonderful and picturesque space. 'Macau Orchestra' will enliven Children's Day, while the 'Macau Chinese Orchestra' will stage a musical, with the Breakthrough Association multimedia show's 'The Bizarre Fairy Tales' sparking new musical experiences.

The 26th Macau Arts Festival - organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau - presents arts lovers with a cornucopia of concerts, dance, theatre, Chinese Opera and exhibitions, while the MAF Outreach Programmes embrace talks, post-show sharing sessions and workshops enabling audiences to interact with hosting groups and crews, in the true spirit of this edition's theme of 'Encounter'.

The 26th MAF is supported by the Macau Government Tourist Office, TDM, Air Macau and MGM Macau. The Macau Arts Festival website is: www.icm.gov.mo/fam. For enquiries, please call (853) 8399 6699 during office hours; 24-hour ticket reservation hotline: (Macau) 2855 5555; (Hong Kong) 2380 5083; (Mainland China) 13 9269 1111; online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com.