Interview by William Chan
Mabina Choi Leng Chi, the theatre director of the Big Mouse Kids Drama Group, revealed to the Post last week that more than 80 young students from their organisation will be presenting the play “Paradise Resort” at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) Small Auditorium on Saturday and Sunday.
The interview was held in a practice room at the Macau Cultural Centre.
Established in 2012, the Big Mouse Kids Drama Group aims to bring drama to the lives of children and youths, cultivating their artistic qualities and fostering cultural participation and appreciation from a young age. The group strives to continue its efforts to develop children’s theatre and performances while benefiting different communities of children and parents through various art programmes.
Choi initially started the programme with only three students, but it has now grown to have 80 students led by several teachers. The age range of the students is between 4 and 14 years. She believes that this increase in the number of students is a result of the support and affirmation from parents. According to Choi, being part of the organisation is much more than just performing for the children; it brings about a positive change in their personality. “Many parents have observed positive changes in their children after attending the classes”, she said.
For Choi and her group, the annual performance is not just a show but a showcase of what the students have learnt and become throughout the year. They prioritise the development of the students’ abilities in aesthetics, communication, and self-expression, something that Choi feels traditional education often lacks.
‘Paradise Resort’
The story revolves around a hotel called Paradise Resort where angels check in people who have passed away. As the hotel needs more angels, a group of students from a tutorial centre is asked to help with the check-in process. These students are tasked with assisting the deceased guests and helping them find solutions to the difficulties they face in checking in. “Incidentally, the students could not fully comprehend the concept of death and even laughed at one of their classmates who felt sad when her dog passed away,” Choi noted. However, as they solve various problems in the storyline, such as finding lost pets for their “guests”, the children learn the importance of helping others and gain a deeper understanding of death. By the end, they develop compassion for the grieving girl.
According to Choi, the play incorporates many elements that were conceived by the young performers themselves. She finds it fascinating to see how these young minds interpret concepts such as heaven and hell, sharing their ideas with the teachers, and incorporating them into the play. The students are then divided into different groups of characters, according to their thoughts and ideas about the theme, including checking in the deceased and the staff of Paradise Resort. Choi expresses gratitude for having screenwriter Chen Chiao Jung on board, as she provided valuable advice and a sharp perspective for the entire performance.
The play also incorporates shadow play, with different colours of light illuminating the stage. The lighting is meticulously planned, as the concept of light plays a significant role in a performance that deals with themes of death and the afterlife. Choi said that it was remarkable to witness how these young performers, with their sincerity and innocence, interpret the meaning of death in their performance.
Paradise Resort will be presented in Cantonese at 7:45 p.m. this Saturday and 2:45 p.m. this Sunday. Tickets, priced at 200 patacas each, can be bought on https://form.jotform.com/233441827418458, with various discounts available. For more information, visit: facebook.com/bigmouse.KDG
Young performers rehearse recently for their upcoming performances.
Mabina Choi (seated) instructs her young performers on the script during a rehearsal in the practice room at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) last week. – Photo: William Chan
The artistes from the Big Mouse Kids Drama Group experiment with shadow play techniques to be incorporated into their upcoming performance.. – Photos provided by Mabina Choi
