Interview by Rui Pastorin
Macau’s first ever performing arts festival specifically for under-fives is taking place across two weeks, having kicked off yesterday and offering something for both parents and young ones to enjoy.
Organised by the local Big Mouse Kids Drama Group in conjunction with the Macau Innovative Network of Infants Arts Association, “CUTE [Creativity Utilised Theatre Experiment] fest 2025” is set to be held through next Sunday, September 14.To learn more about its ideas and an upcoming local show, the Post spoke with festival producer CK Chan Si Kei, show choreographer Chloe Lao Cho Wa, and Big Mouse Kids Drama Group President and Director of local show “Wonders of Mummy’s Tummy” Ivan Au Chi Hang earlier this week.
The festival
The Big Mouse Kids Drama Group has been hard at work exploring and developing theatre for the very young, and in 2018 they premiered the first locally created production for infants in Macau titled “Little Bath Wonders”, its reception indicating strong demand for such arts events, according to information provided to the Post.
“Little by little, step by step, we developed our philosophy and our idea and what we believe is to provide arts experience to everyone, no matter how old they are”, Chan pointed out. Au added that the group is “very keen to share the art of theatre for every age”, whether they are zero years old or teenagers. “They have the right to enjoy everything in the theatre”.
Initiatives to promote theatres for the early age, including collaborative workshops and related theatre productions have been launched by the group over the years. A festival-style event had been planned in 2023 that was to feature programmes from Macau and elsewhere, along with workshops. However, factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and sponsorship issues had led to its postponement. But efforts persisted.
And with the “CUTE fest 2025”, which is part of a two-year plan, it aims to achieve a number of objectives in addition to establishing a festival for toddlers and infants, among which is creating a platform to connect local and international artists involved in creating theatre for the very young, as well as open up and grow the market and expand local promotion, according to the interviewees.
Aside from shows, the programme includes informative workshops for early childhood educators and theatre creators, as well as related sessions, Chan noted. The performances, meanwhile, are namely the classical music theatre for toddlers “Mr. Satie - Made in Paper” by Poland’s Teatr Atofri, the colourful dance theatre for babies and toddlers titled “In The Painters’ Studio” performed by Singapore-based The Kueh Tutus, and the local group’s interactive theatre for both babies and toddlers “Wonders of Mummy’s Tummy”.
Au said that each show is unique, highlighting that they all have something for their target audiences and their parents to enjoy.
‘Wonders of Mummy’s Tummy’
Ideas for the local show started when the creative team began wondering what a baby might experience “inside mummy’s tummy” including what they might have sensed, possibly remembered, and their reactions to touch. These curiosities prompted further discussion, according to Au.
Through a dedicated team and their joint efforts towards everything from research to the set, “Wonders of Mummy’s Tummy” was created. It marks the third production by Big Mouse Kids Drama Group for the very young, and this time features dedicated sessions for both infants (from 8 to 24 months) and toddlers (from 2 to 5 years), exploring different audience dimensions and adjusting the show accordingly. And while it is geared towards these age groups, the team never forgets about the parents, having them in mind for each production, said Au, ensuring that they “can enjoy it together”. The show attempts to recreate wonderful initial moments between parents and children, Lao added, noting: “They want to create a wonderful time. Not just for the kids. But the family altogether”.
Running for two weekends at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) starting tomorrow, the show provides a sensory adventure in a safe environment where young showgoers are also allowed to feel how they feel. It features props and a set all made by its design team, all engaging various senses across three different sections, according to Au and Chan. The set enables everyone to sit and explore each part for the whole show, with a performance taking place across the different areas, Chan said.
Young showgoers and their parents can also choose to interact with and join the performers, possibly leading to a different show each time, Lao noted. CK highlighted that for shows like this, it’s all about discovery, motivating parents to be a bit more hands-off and allow for exploration.
Altogether, they hope to help create an early memory of a wonderful moment between parents and children, with Chan highlighting that this is “a shared experience”, emphasising the importance of being present. “Maybe they don’t remember the exact things that happened, but they’ll always remember the feeling of company and sharing joy”, she pointed out.
A platform to connect everyone
CK and Lao both also highlighted that the importance of early exposure and attending theatre shows together, pointing out that this is a good way to enable bonding between families, with Au adding that it could possibly promote future interest among those who experienced the arts early.
Moreover, Lao remarked on the importance of having a space that allows parents and their kids to enjoy at the same time. And the theatre can do just that. Early exposure to this type of theatre, according to both Lao and Chan, also engages and develops all five senses, along with other things like identity and creativity. “Everything actually happens together. So art is one of the best mediums”, Lao said, while Chan added that art can shape their creativity and how they understand the world.
All interviewees highlighted the significance of hosting the festival as well as watching theatre shows at an early age, highlighting “the power of the arts”.
As a whole, Lao added that the festival is hoped to “open the floor” for everyone to share their ideas. Chan said they hope that the festival can act as a platform that they can build up to connect everyone and encourage exchange.
The festival runs through next Sunday, with ticketing and more details available by visiting https://www.dartmacau.com/cutefest2025
Producer CK Chan Si Kei (centre), show choreographer Chloe Lao Cho Wa (right), and Big Mouse Kids Drama Group President and Director of local show “Wonders of Mummy’s Tummy” Ivan Au Chi Hang pose after the Post interview earlier this week. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
Photos of a previous show in April provided by the organisers.
