The Australian production “Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo” wrapped up its series of community pop-up performances yesterday, drawing enthusiastic crowds to Anim’Arte NAM VAN after a sold-out run at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape as part of the 3rd Macao International Children’s Arts Festival (MICAF).
The final outdoor showcase, organised under the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s (IC) “Culture City, Happy City” initiative, brought the production’s life-sized dinosaur puppets into the community, allowing children and families to interact with the prehistoric creatures up close.
Speaking to the Post on the sidelines of the outdoor event yesterday evening, Erth Visual & Physical Inc. Artistic Director Scott Wright said the production had received an ‘overwhelming response’ in Macau.
“All of the shows sold out. So, there have been as many people as possible able to see the show. The response has been pretty amazing,” Wright said, adding that he recalled the excitement during the opening performance at the Macau Cultural Centre, where children eagerly rushed onto the stage.
“In our first show, the children stormed the stage. We actually had to get security to stop the children from climbing onto the stage,” he said, adding that the company quickly adapted its approach after seeing the audience’s enthusiasm.
Reflecting on the outdoor performances, Wright said the final community showcase attracted the strongest turnout despite the weather. “I think today has been the most successful,” he noted. “It’s really lovely to see people outside, again, enjoying nature, despite the weather – better to be outside than inside.”
Wright said he believes dinosaurs continue to capture children’s imaginations regardless of where the shows are performed. “I think that worldwide, children just love dinosaurs and they love nature,” he said.
Highlighting China’s contribution to dinosaur research, Wright noted that the country has discovered more dinosaur species than Australia. “China has definitely found more dinosaurs than Australia,” he said, adding that more than 1,000 dinosaur species have been identified worldwide and that new discoveries are made regularly.
When asked about a possible connection between dinosaurs and the Chinese dragon, Wright said there is no scientific evidence linking the two, but suggested they occupy similar places in the human imagination. “I think there’s some kind of memory that allows us to be able to think about dragons and dinosaurs in a very similar way,” he said.
Wright also said the company hopes to return to Macau one day after receiving such a warm welcome from local audiences. “We would love to come back,” he said, adding that he hopes to spend more time exploring the city on a future visit rather than only performing here.
Eventgoers interact with two of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo puppets at Anim’Arte NAM VAN yesterday. – Photos: Khalel Vallo
