Comedy camp is no laughing matter

Established in Beijing in 2003, the comedy company has produced in excess of 100 stage shows that have toured more than 150 cities. Some of their most popular works have been adapted into feature-length movies, including Goodbye Mr Loser (2015) and Never Say Die (2017).

In March, Mahua FunAge hosted the first Macao International Comedy Festival, which aims to cultivate comedic talents and promote Chinese comedies to the overseas markets.

Leer Cheng, the chief financial officer of Mahua FunAge, says that they launched the festival two years ago in line with China's effort to accelerate the integrated development of Hengqin and Macao.

Pointing out that the local entertainment and culture market is diverse and inclusive, Cheng says that she hopes to discover and train more talent to further develop the comedy performance industry within the local market.

A total of 20 amateur comedy fans attended the camp, with participants ranging from a 19-year-old from Beijing to a 57-year-old from Hong Kong.

Revealing that the camp focused on teaching acting and creative skills for sketch comedy, Cheng says that this format is an emerging form of comedy that consists of a series of short and amusing scenes.

"The form has a faster pace and shorter length compared to traditional comedies. It revolves around a quirky point or creative idea, with some developing a plotline entirely, while others conclude abruptly and may seem nonsensical but funny," Cheng explains.