EVENT DESCRIPTION
The narrow lanes of Macao’s old quarters hold countless forgotten stories. The Old House of Orchid draws on real history to tell a story of displacement and shifting fortunes, bringing to light a vivid yet fading chapter of the city’s past.
Cheang Hoi arrives in Macao in search of a living, only to be deceived and sold overseas as a ‘piglet’ – a term used for trafficked labourers. As he is passed from place to place, his fate takes an unexpected turn: the one who was sold becomes the one who sells. Years later, he returns to find everything changed. The once-thriving House of Orchid lies in ruins, and what remains of the past are only fragments.
Premiered in 2025 at Macao City Fringe Festival to an enthusiastic response, the production returns in a reimagined staging for the black box theatre. Blending storytelling, drama and live music, the performers shift fluidly between narrator and character, moving through both stage and audience. From multiple perspectives, patrons are invited to step into our city’s past and encounter traces of a history that lingers, though distant.
20/6 │ Saturday │ 19:45
21/6 │ Sunday │ 14:45
Box II, Macao Cultural Centre
Post-show talk on 20 June.
Artistic Director: Ip Ka Man
Director and Playwright: Fong Ki Tuen
Cast: Ng Yui Man and Tang Yu Ting Adam
Design: Tse Tsz San, Lam Ka Pik, Lai Ka Wai, Remuiwai and Shing Pok Man
Approximately 1 hour, without interval
Performed in Cantonese, with surtitles in Chinese and English
Restricted to audiences aged 18 or above. Includes depictions of violence and gore
