The Most Spectacular Live Shows in Macau
There’s more to Macau than just gambling and casinos. If you’re looking for family-style entertainment, the city is home to several resident live shows that are well worth attending. From the world’s largest water show to mind-blowing magic shows, dazzling stage spectacles and even the world’s biggest indoor LED screen – seeing one of Macau’s spectacular shows is among the best things to do in the city. Here are five of our favourites.
1. The Experience and Destiny
Theater
When it opens in the fourth quarter of 2017, the new MGM Theater at COTAI will boast the world’s largest permanent indoor LED screen – offering 28 million pixels of viewing pleasure on a giant 900-square-metre ultra HD screen – the size of three tennis courts combined.
The theatre will be home to three resident shows with two launching first, The Experience and Destiny. The Experience, inspired by the soul of Macau, is a ten-minute, mind-bending technological symphony that showcases the theatre’s engineering and architectural dexterity. Meanwhile, Destiny is an action-packed, immersive theatrical production that is inspired by the concept of TV game shows and adventure video games.
Through utilising a ultra-high-resolution video system, the theatre is able to capture the audience’s reaction and virtually reflect it at real-life size onto the giant LED wall, giving the public an impression of looking into a mirror. The overall aim is to take live entertainment a step closer to the world of mass virtual reality.
MGM Theatre, MGM Cotai, Macau, +853 8802 8888
Rendering of the MGM Theater at MGM COTAI, Macau | Photo courtesy of MGM Macau
2. The House of Dancing Water
Macau’s $250 million The House of Dancing Water is the world’s largest water-based production. Produced by legendary Las Vegas show-maker Franco Dragone (he directed Cirque du Soleil’s most prestigious shows in the 1990s), the 85-minute spectacle combines water stunts, acrobatics, aerial arts and theatre.
Water is undoubtedly the star of the show. The performance pool is capable of holding up to 3.7 million gallons – the equivalent of more than five Olympic-sized swimming pools. Remarkably, with the help of 11 hydraulic 10-tonne lifts, the stage can convert from an aquatic pool to a solid floor in less than a minute.
A cast of 90 international performing artists brings the show to life. Equally, the special effects and water wizardry are exceptional. Not only are the show’s many stunts mind-blowing to watch, but so too is the technical magic – at several points in the show, you wonder just how they pull it off.
House of Dancing Water, 1/F City of Dreams, Estrada Do Istmo, Cotai, Macau, +853 8868 6688
The House of Dancing Water, Macau | Photo courtesy of Dragone Entertainment
3. The Monkey King
This large-scale fantasy stage play is a modern adaptation of the acclaimed 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West. It tells the story of the famous monk – Xuan Zang from the Tang Dynasty (602 – 664) – who embarks on an epic journey to the West in what is arguably one of the most famous and enduring stories told in Chinese folklore.
After eight years in the making, the spectacle is produced by the Beijing Huayan Group in a groundbreaking new resident stage spectacular at a purpose-built theatre in Sands Cotai Central.
The classic Chinese tale is brought to life by a team of talented artists, acrobats, ballet dancers, and martial arts masters from all around the world including stars from the National Peking Opera, as well as former cast members of Cirque du Soleil.
Among its highlights, guests can expect to be captivated by a giant 15-metre Buddha hand weighing seven tonnes, and two huge talons reaching out from the sides of the theatre. The show features the most advanced 3D effects, LED-screen projections, video-mapping and surround sound, together with creative lighting effects, choreography, and music, as well as hundreds of colourful costumes designed by Ah Kuan.
The Monkey King, Sands Cotai Theatre, Sands Cotai Central, Estrada do Istmo. s/n, Cotai, Macau, +853 8118 3643
Monkey King at Sands Cotai Central | Photo courtesy of Sands China
5. Viva La Broadway
This cocktail of world-class performers offers a little something for everyone. Essentially a variety show, it features a line-up of three to four different accomplished performers who each perform a ten-minute set in this hour-long show.
It’s well worth going to see just for the laser show alone – it will certainly impress the kids. Performed by Donatella Colucci from Italy, using the latest technology, it’s a visual explosion of light and lasers.
Other highlights include skate duo Matt & Valentina who perform thrilling high-speed and gravity-defying roller-skating stunts.
Dance troupe Crazy Rouge, stars of TV show Britain’s Got Talent, add a fun element to the spectacle performing burlesque moves, with a live band, to crowd-pleasing hits from Bruno Mars, Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé.
Broadway Theatre, Broadway Macau, Avenida Marginal Flor de Lotus, Cotai, Macau, +853 8883 3338
Viva La Broadway at Broadway Theatre, Macau | Photo courtesy of Galaxy Macau
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
Culture Trip Spring Sale
Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.
