editorial

A long-running drama troupe is on a mission to take Macau’s unique patois into the future.
<figure id="attachment_141046" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-141046" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-141046 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Doci-Papiaçám-di-Macau-Founder-Miguel-de-Senna-Fernandes.jpg" alt="Miguel de Senna Fernandes, director of Doci Papiaçám di Macau; de Senna Fernandes on stage with young performers from the group." width="1200" height="894" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Doci-Papiaçám-di-Macau-Founder-Miguel-de-Senna-Fernandes.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Doci-Papiaçám-di-Macau-Founder-Miguel-de-Senna-Fernandes-300x224.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Doci-Papiaçám-di-Macau-Founder-Miguel-de-Senna-Fernandes-1024x763.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Doci-Papiaçám-di-Macau-Founder-Miguel-de-Senna-Fernandes-768x572.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-141046" class="wp-caption-text">Left to right: Miguel de Senna Fernandes, director of Doci Papiaçám di Macau; de Senna Fernandes on stage with young performers from the group. (Photos: Denzel Calangi (left); courtesy of Doci Papiaçám di Macau)</figcaption></figure>
It all starts with having fun, says Miguel de Senna Fernandes, director and playwright of the amateur theater group Doci Papiaçám di Macau. A lawyer by trade, Fernandes beams with joy when talking about the troupe that debuts a new play each year at the Macao Arts Festival, usually held in May. “Initially, many people join us not because they want to protect some kind of culture. They join us for the fun,” he says. “Some realize from the beginning what we are doing and they take a lot of pride in being with us. But others discover the real thing later on.”
A prominent figure in the Macanese community and the son of respected author and lawyer Henrique de Senna Fernandes, the 63-year-old has led Dóci Papiaçám (literally, “sweet speech”) since its inception in 1993. Its main distinguishing feature? The use of Patuá. Based primarily on Portuguese, the creole language has a unique blend of influences from Malay, Sinhala, Spanish, English, and Cantonese. That mélange reflects the eclectic origins of the Macanese themselves, who were born from centuries of intermarriage between Portuguese merchants, sailors, and administrators and local women from places along the maritime trade routes linking East Asia with Europe. But the language—which UNESCO classifies as “critically endangered”—is at risk of disappearing, with only 50 speakers worldwide as of 2000. Fernandes stresses that many of them have since died. “Few can sustain an entire conversation in Patuá. But then, what Patuá are we talking about?” he shrugs, noting that the language has continued to evolve.
It’s not all about keeping Patuá alive. On stage, the drama group emanates a unique aura. They embody the Macanese culture, the mixed community’s deeply entrenched history, and their way of life—while also reflecting on the idiosyncrasies of their home city and the dramatic changes that have reshaped it. Rooted in current events, Fernandes’ plays offer both comedic relief as well as thought-provoking commentary. At his office downtown, he hints that recent news is already fueling his creative spark. “We have a new chief executive coming, right?” he says, grinning.
In recent years, the troupe’s founder has also taken on the role of music com &#8211; poser, incorporating singing parts as well as videos into the shows. Though he may be one of the most devoted guardians of Macanese culture, Fernandes is far from being adverse to change. “Traditionally, Patuá theater is comedy. It’s satire. But who said that you can’t make a [tragedy] in Patuá? The new generation can give it a try … and put another spin on patuá theater. As long as they find it fun, with purpose, with some know-how, some wit, and courage to be on stage, they can do it,” he says. “Gosh, I would like to be in the audience.
<figure id="attachment_140968" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140968" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-140968 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Doci-Papiacam.jpg" alt="Members of the Doci Papiaçám di Macau theater group in action." width="1200" height="800" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140968" class="wp-caption-text">Members of the Doci Papiaçám di Macau theater group in action.</figcaption></figure>
Look for Dóci Papiaçám at the 2025 edition of the Macao Arts Festival, a month-long celebration of theater, dance, music, and visual arts that will kick off in May.
This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://subscription.destinasian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">October/November 2024</a> print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Holding The Stage”).

Members of the Doci Papiaçám di Macau theater group in action.

The Theater Group Keeping Patuá Alive