Macao's theater talent shines

Most of them balance theater with full-time jobs. Among them are a high school music teacher and a company mailroom clerk. But on a summer afternoon in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Guangdong province, it was their shared passion for the stage — rather than their day jobs — that took center stage.

One by one, representatives from 12 Macao theater troupes stepped onto the stage of the Mahua FunAge Theater of Hengqin Cultural and Art Center as spotlights illuminated each of them in turn.

For Leer Cheng, chief financial officer and assistant president of Mahua FunAge, it was an emotional moment. Her eyes welled up as she watched the creators appear, feeling that their years of dedication to theater had finally been recognized.

The moment was part of the opening ceremony of the 2026 Macau Live International, which began on June 17.

Over the following six months, 12 performing arts troupes will present a diverse lineup of productions, ranging from traditional plays and musicals to choral concerts and clown performances.