The interactive puppet show “Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo” will kick off the 3rd Macau International Children’s Arts Festival this week, combining large-scale dinosaur puppets, scientific storytelling and interactive theatre for audiences of all ages.
Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the festival will officially open tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape.
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo, presented by Australia’s Erth Visual & Physical Inc., will be staged tomorrow and Saturday at the CCM’s Grand Auditorium. At a media session yesterday afternoon, Erth Artistic Director Scott Wright and members of the puppetry team introduced the production’s creative concept and performance highlights.
The show features life-sized dinosaur puppets, including the “Australovenator” and energetic baby dinosaurs, guiding audiences through a prehistoric adventure that blends scientific exploration with imaginative storytelling. Wright said that children’s fascination with dinosaurs comes from both their connection to nature and the creatures’ ability to spark imagination. “Children get to see the creatures that they love, that they see on television or in a museum, but they get to see them alive on stage”, Wright said.
“We work with palaeontologists and museums so that we can be as authentic as possible, while also bringing the dinosaurs to life through puppetry and storytelling”, he noted, adding that that the creative team studies not only reptiles but also birds when designing dinosaur behaviour.
“Birds are dinosaurs”, Wright pointed out, noting that the Australian cassowary is one of the animals that inspired the movement and behaviour of some of the puppets.
As part of the festival’s community outreach programme, the dinosaur puppets are also making appearances around Macau through a series of pop-up events under the “More Culture, More Happiness” initiative, according to a statement by the bureau yesterday. The first pop-up was held yesterday in the Lok Yeung Fa Yuen (“Green Poplar Garden”) area, the statement said, adding that additional appearances are scheduled for Luís de Camões Garden tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., and Anim’Arte NAM VAN on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for various Macau International Children’s Arts Festival programmes are available through the Enjoy Macao Ticketing platform at ticketing.enjoymacao.mo, with special family package discounts offered for group purchases. More information is available on the festival’s official website at www.icm.gov.mo/micaf.
Erth Visual & Physical Inc Artistic Director Scott Wright (top second from right) and his team pose with their puppet dinosaurs during yesterday’s “Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo” media session at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape. – Photo: Khalel Vallo
