INTERCULTURAL EXPERIENCE ARCHITECT

I design experiences that change people — not through watching, but through doing.

Theater Direction · Game Design · Psychology
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See My Work ↓
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ABOUT

Who is Maria Miao?

Maria Miao is a Shanghai-based intercultural theater director who combines stage directing, game design, and psychology to create transformative experiences.

Trained at the College of William & Mary (USA) in World Performing Arts and Cultures with a Direction Concentration, she brings 9 years of professional practice, 100+ directed productions, and research from 200+ escape rooms to every project.

She holds a psychological counselor certification from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with advanced training in Grotowski, Odin Teatret, Butoh, and Kalaripayattu physical theater methods.

Maria is the founder of Theatricat — a creative studio producing immersive theater, game-theater hybrids, applied drama workshops, and transformative corporate experiences.

WHAT I DO

Three Pillars

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Theater

Stage Direction & Playwriting

  • Cross-cultural productions (spoken drama, musical, physical theater)
  • Children's drama education (20+ school productions)
  • Original works: Time's Rhapsody series, The Hug Deal, Metamorphoses
  • Venues: Shanghai Drama Art Center, Oriental Arts Center, Poly Theater
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Games

Game Design & Therapeutic Play

  • Founder of Cat Cat Playground gaming community
  • Certified Abundant Life sandbox coach (30+ hours)
  • Board game design: feminism, mental health, neurodiversity
  • Game-theater hybrids and interactive narrative experiences

Immersive

Immersive Experience Design

  • Theme parks, performance venues, cultural tourism
  • Escape rooms, RPGs, LARP, site-specific performances
  • Informed by 200+ escape room experiences
  • Corporate team-building through immersive formats
PORTFOLIO

Selected Works

Theater
The Hug Deal
拥抱交易
2025 · 0101 Park
Immersive
Oranges on Hengsha
橘生横沙
2025 · Hengsha Island
Immersive
When Love Repeats
叮!重来
2025 · Hangzhou
Immersive
Star Cluster Embers
星群余烬
2025 · Q*Space
Immersive
Tidal Voyage
潮汐航行
2025 · Q*Space
Theater
Anti-Fraud Play
反诈宣传剧
2024 · Pudong Culture Hall
Theater
The Little Mermaid
小美人鱼
2024 · IAG Art Center
Education
Chengyu Stories
成语故事的智慧
2024 · Pudong Theater
Immersive
10-Day Terminal Exhibition
十日终焉Only展
2025 · Shanghai
Theater
Time's Rhapsody 3.0
时间狂想曲
2022 · Multiple Venues
Theater
Metamorphoses
变形记
2020 · Yuexin Rooftop
Education
I Believe (3-city tour)
I Believe
2021 · Shanghai Drama Art Center
Musical
Into the Woods
拜访森林
2021 · Oriental Arts Center
Musical
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
老虎来敲门
2020 · Poly Theater
Theater
Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land
暗恋桃花源
2018 · William & Mary
Musical
Mulan
花木兰
2018 · Oriental Arts Center
Education
Alice in Wonderland
爱丽丝
2022 · Yihai Theater
Education
Harry Potter
哈利波特
2022 · Yihai Theater
Musical
Willy Wonka
查理的巧克力工厂
2022 · Yihai Theater
Education
The Tempest
暴风雨
2022 · Xidong Arts
Musical
Greatest Showman
马戏之王
Musical
Musical
Hamilton
汉密尔顿
Musical
Musical
Descendants
后羿
Musical
Musical
Peter Pan
彼得潘
Musical
Musical
Encanto
魔法满屋
Musical
CREDENTIALS

Education & Training

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College of William & Mary (USA)
World Performing Arts & Cultures, Direction Concentration
CERTIFICATIONS
CAS Certified Psychological Counselor
中科院认证心理咨询师
Children's Drama Education Teacher Lv IV
儿童戏剧教育教师四级
Process Drama Training - Intermediate
过程戏剧中级
Image Theater & Sound Theater Lv1
形象剧场&声音剧场
Playback Theater Lv1
一人一故事初阶
English Drama Facilitator (China Theater Education Committee)
中戏委英语戏剧指导师
Chinese Children's Literature & Scriptwriter
中国儿童文学创作编剧
Abundant Life Sandbox Coach
丰盛人生沙盘教练
PHYSICAL THEATER TRAINING

For Companies & Organizations

Transform your team through experience — not PowerPoint.

I design psychology-informed, game-driven experiences that make invisible team dynamics visible. From half-day workshops to full immersive productions, each experience is custom-designed for your team's specific challenges.

Bilingual delivery (English & Chinese) available for international teams.

Get in Touch
CONTACT

Let's Create Something

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Theatricat
小红书
小喵好好导
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