Interview by William Chan
Macau’s original production “Caretaker” – a fusion of music, illustration, and theatre – was performed at Guangzhou’s Yun Theatre this Saturday and Sunday. Blending drama, music, and movement, the work is based on real-life stories, using art to trace the lives of caregivers and spark deeper reflection on the issue of long-term care.
“Caretaker” is produced by local art company Pierian Spring* and draws from five years of in-depth interviews conducted by Comuna de Pedra, collecting firsthand experiences from community caregivers. The show is a collaboration of a 15-member creative team, combining narrative theatre, pop music, and visual design to create a richly layered stage language.
This run is directed by seasoned Playback Theatre** facilitator Debbie Tai (戴碧筠), with drama therapist Jojo Lam (林詠欣) as co-creator, producer, and performer. The production places special emphasis on physical theatre to express the emotions and struggles of caregivers, inviting audiences to experience the inner worlds of those who give care through a blend of movement and music.
Tai and Lam reflected that over the past five or six years, through Playback Theatre, the team had entered the lives of caregivers – social workers, nurses, family members – the quiet figures who support others while rarely being noticed themselves. They added that these stories were not just personal but intertwined with duty, emotion, and the systems everyone lives within, forming a web that revealed the deeper layers of society and the invisible threads that connect people.
“These interviews weren’t just research; they became emotional archives – our script and our emotional map. Through theatre, we hope that caregivers can see themselves on stage, hear each other’s voices, and feel seen, heard, and supported,” Tai said, “Caretakers are physically exhausted, but it’s their belief that keeps them going.”
Tai emphasised that the team has always believed in a mixed cast, with professional performers sharing the stage with people who have actually lived the stories. She considered this not just a stylistic choice but a creative philosophy, saying that stories about caregiving should be told by those who truly experience it and performed by those willing to listen wholeheartedly.
Tai described working closely with actors and musicians, all of whom spoke of their own experiences with caregiving – sometimes as providers, sometimes as recipients of care. Through these exchanges, perspectives shifted, and the group realised that they were not just performers but also participants and witnesses, re-examining their own lives through the lens of care.
Performance reaction
Tai cited a moment from a 2022 performance when a caregiver had to leave halfway through, apologising as they rushed out because they needed to feed someone upstairs. Tai said that moment struck her deeply, as it showed that caregivers’ time was constantly fragmented and that simply being present at the theatre was already an act of courage and trust. She felt every moment given to them was precious.
“After each performance, we took a quiet moment to listen - to really hear what the audience leaves behind. One caregiver once whispered as they were leaving, ‘I don’t know how to say it, but there’s so much inside me.’ That line stayed with me,” Tai said.
Tai noted that some audience members in Guangzhou challenged them, saying that the title “Caretakers” felt too blunt, too exposed, as viewing their own vulnerability on stage can be uncomfortable. “Nonetheless, it’s exactly the space we want to reach. The emotions that get buried, ignored, or quietly endured - they deserve a voice,” Tai said.
Lam noted that post-performance, through the use of online chat groups, they gathered mixed reactions from the audience. “As the topic of caretaking is quite universal - even our performers have related experiences - it is easy to create sympathetic responses. Guangzhou and Macau also share similar cultural backgrounds, creating much resonance in terms of Chinese cultural issues.”
“One audience member, a person in recovery, praised the performance for accurately presenting the truth with a powerful and beautiful stage performance, while some felt the show romanticised caregivers too much, as real-life care isn’t always so saintly. We welcome and acknowledge all reactions, as care is complex. It’s not just soft and noble - it’s exhausting, messy, and full of contradictions. There’s light and shadow, grace and grit,” Tai said.
* The literal Pierian Spring is located in Pieria, a region in ancient Macedonia, just north of Mount Olympus in Greece. This area was considered the homeland of the Muses. In Greek mythology, the Muses were the nine goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences (like poetry, history, music, and astronomy). They were the source of inspiration for all artists, poets, and thinkers.
To “drink from the Pierian Spring” means to deeply and earnestly seek out learning, to be inspired by the arts, and to cultivate one’s mind. - DeepSeek
**Playback Theatre is a form of improvisational theatre where audience members share personal stories, which are then enacted on the spot by the performers. – DeepSeek
Comuna de Pedra hosts original production Caretaker Guangzhou’s Yun Theatre on Sunday. – Photos provided by Comuna de Pedra
