Organised by the Chung Chi Drama Club, the multimedia theatre production “Chi Lam Vai –The Way Back Home” held its opening ceremony on Friday night at the Macao Cultural Centre’s (CCM) Black Box Theatre to a full house, kicking off a run of five performances across three consecutive days.
The event was sponsored by the Cultural Development Fund’s (CDF) “Funding Programme for Intangible Cultural Heritage Projects” and received partial venue fee waivers under the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s (IC) “Rental Waiver Scheme” at the Macao Cultural Centre.
According to a statement released during Friday’s show, by combining live theatrical performance with documentary footage, the production breaks the boundaries of conventional performance formats.
Audience members can “experience” the grand spectacle of the Na Tcha Festival procession through authentic video footage, providing an innovative presentation of Macau’s intangible cultural heritage, the “Na Tcha Folk Beliefs”, the statement noted.
Centred around Chi Lam Vai - Macau’s only surviving traditional walled village - the play brings to life the everyday street culture and collective memories nestled beneath the Ruins of St. Paul’s and the Na Tcha Temple, the statement noted, adding that in order to ensure an accurate restoration of the intangible heritage details, the production specially invited Ip Tat, a national-level intangible cultural heritage practitioner, to serve as a consultant.
Chi Lam Vai (aka Chi Lam Chuen – 茨林村; “Potato Plantation Enclosure”), known in Portuguese as Pátio do Espinho (“Courtyard of the Thorn”), is a 400-year-old former walled village. It is situated just a street away from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Na Tcha Temple – one of Macau’s two temples dedicated to the deity known in Putonghua as Nezha – and close to the also UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s.
Adapted from the 2023 short film “Rainy Moment” and the short drama script “Chi Lam Vai: The Way Back Home”, the play tells the story of Chi Lam, who grew up in Chi Lam Vai and was forced to leave his home following his grandfather’s passing. Years later, he returns to his roots carrying out his grandfather’s dying wish - “to make a film about Chi Lam Vai”.
Reconnecting with his old neighbours, he rediscovers the heartfelt warmth and true spirit of the village. The production was headed by Michael Chung (鍾志業), with Steven U (余志雲) serving as the video director.
The organisers said on Friday they hope to revitalise the history of the centuries-old village and its intangible culture through theatrical art, supporting community cultural preservation and the integration of culture and tourism.
Speaking before the premiere, Chung said that the work focuses on the intangible cultural heritage of the “Na Tcha Folk Beliefs”, merging various multimedia aspects to showcase Macau’s historic sites and customs, with the aim of enabling the audience to get a sense of the local people’s core values.
The “Na Tcha Beliefs and Customs” centre around the worship of Na Tcha (Nezha), a deeply revered child deity in Chinese folk religion, Taoism, and Buddhism. Traditionally depicted as a youthful, rebellious figure who flies on “Wind Fire Wheels” and wields a “Universe Ring,” Na Tcha is celebrated as a powerful protector against evil spirits, plagues, and natural disasters. While Na Tcha is recognised across many Chinese communities, the specific “Na Tcha Beliefs and Customs” have a uniquely profound cultural footprint in Macau. The core elements of the Na Tcha belief are his role as a Child Protector, a Shield Against Plagues, and Embodiment of Cultural Harmony. Every year, around the 18th day of the fifth lunar month, Macau hosts vibrant celebrations to mark Na Tcha’s birthday, this year it was on July 2. The Na Tcha Parade, this time on July 1-2, was a grand procession where a statue of the deity was carried through the historic streets, accompanied by lion and dragon dances to bless the community.
The Post published an editorial headlined “Ne Zha – China’s soft power answer to Mickey Mouse” on March 3, 2025.
https://www.macaupostdaily.com/news/24225.
The production and performance team of “Chi Lam Vai: The Way Back Home”, alongside Chi Lam Vai residents and guests, pose for a group photo on stage during Friday’s premiere at the Macao Cultural Centre Black Box. – Photo: Pui Ieng
