Roarrrr Theatre bring their children’s show, Here Comes Gudong, to Edinburgh Fringe this summer.
“When a thunderous Gudong rattles the jungle, join Explorer Monkey and her quirky crew to crack the code. Is it Jingwei’s ancient cry, Nordic trolls’ burps or clock factories exploding?
Dive into a sensory symphony of puppetry and live-camera wizardry, weaving east Asian folklore with western fables. Bursting with heart, humor and hands-on magic, this interactive quest turns families into myth-busters.
Don’t just watch… sleuth, solve and soar. Curiosity is calling – Gudong!”
Where: Amphitheatre at The Space
When: 4-6 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/here-comes-gudong
Find out more from producer/writer/director Portia Yuran Li, and team.
Here Comes Gudong has myth, mystery, puppetry and interaction — what can audiences expect when they come along?
That’s such an amazing question, because it really gets to the heart of what makes Here Comes Gudong special! Audiences are in for a truly rich and multi-layered theatrical
experience.
We weave together ancient mythology with live puppetry, Chinese shadow play, immersive storytelling, and direct interaction to create something unique.
Forget traditional puppetry where the puppets might be hidden. Our approach is innovative: the puppets function almost like a montage lens. You’ll see the puppeteers themselves
actively delivering lines and fluidly shifting between characters and objects right before the audience’s eyes.
This creates this wonderful, seamless flow – a constant montage of imagination and myth unfolding live. And crucially, we bring the children right into that adventure!
There are playful interactions woven throughout, like inviting them to guess objects starting with the sound ‘P,’ or figure out what mysterious thing might be making that ‘Gudong’ sound.
Ultimately, audiences can expect an adventure driven by sound, surprise, and story. It’s a celebration of pure curiosity and the incredible power of listening deeply.
It’s designed to captivate both children and the adults who bring them, offering wonder and a shared, interactive experience.
How does your show fit in with the other children’s shows this year?
Here Comes Gudong is very much designed as a joyful, self-contained adventure. Kids don’t need any prior knowledge of Chinese mythology or history to jump right in and have a
fantastic time.
Audiences – especially children aged about 4 to 12 – will instantly connect with following our three curious animal explorers on their whimsical quest to discover the source of this mysterious ‘Gudong’ sound.
Along that journey, they’re gently introduced to playful ideas about sound, silence, and the power of their own imagination. Where the show finds its unique place, I believe, is in its heart and its approach.
The core message is beautifully simple and resonant for kids and adults alike: when we hear something puzzling, ‘Seeing is believing, proof is pudding.’ It’s about curiosity and seeking understanding.
How did Roarrr Theatre start? Do Fringe festivals inspire you?
Roarrr Theatre really began in the most personal of spaces: bedtime stories. Our founder, director and producer, Portia Yuran Li – a London-based Chinese artist and mother to her
wonderfully imaginative son, Bobby – was spinning tales night after night.
Bobby, especially
loving anything that roared, brought such infectious energy to those stories that they truly began to ‘roar’ to life in their imaginations.
That intimate, magical experience of sharing stories across generations and cultures
sparked the idea.
Portia wanted to create a dedicated space – Roarrr Theatre – where families could come together and collectively reimagine ancient myths and embark on adventures, much like she and Bobby did.
Our first show, Here Comes Gudong, was born from that spirit. We tested it at Blackheath Halls in 2023, and honestly, the response was incredible – we sold out! It was entirely
self-funded by Portia at that stage, a real leap of faith.
But that success was a powerful signal: families are hungry for stories that blend East Asian heritage with a truly global sense
of imagination and play.
Fringe festivals is definitely a huge inspiration. They’ve been absolutely vital. Taking work to the Fringe environment challenged us – in the best possible way – to elevate every aspect of
what we do, and the script is completely new from the last show.
It wasn’t just about refining
the artistic vision; it pushed us to develop professional structures, think about scale, and meet industry standards.
The Fringe also acts as this incredible magnetic point. It inspires us by gathering
phenomenal talent – casts, creatives, technicians – all united by that Fringe spirit.
This collaborative energy fuels bigger ambitions, and frankly, it pushes the entire team to become much more cohesive, skilled, and daring. The Fringe doesn’t just showcase work; it forges it, and us, into something stronger.
What are you most looking forward to in Edinburgh?
We’re absolutely buzzing to meet the incredible mix of audiences — curious children, thoughtful parents, fellow theatre-makers, and professional reviewers.
Curious kids completely lost in the story, parents sharing those wide-eyed moments with them, fellow theatre-makers sparking new ideas, and industry peers discovering our work.
More than anything, we’re looking forward to the conversations it
starts, the potential collaborations that might emerge, and those pure, shared moments of
wonder… you know, the kind of magic that only happens when everyone’s breathing the
same air in a live theatre.
The Fringe offers a uniquely generous and dynamic stage for experimental, heart-led work to connect with the world.
That’s the real Edinburgh gold for us.