Heading to the Brighton Fringe later this month, Bound by the Wind: Echoes of the Past is created by a multicultural team of emerging artists, and invites audiences to witness the woman behind the war god — and the moment she chooses to leave.
Where: Rotunda Theatre, Brighton – Bubble
When: 24 May, 2pm and 25 May, 5pm
Ticket link: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/bound-by-the-wind-echoes-of-the-past/
What can you tell us about your show and where did the idea come from?
Sammi (Xinyue) Xing: Director & Writer:
The piece is inspired by the story of Hua Mulan, but instead of retelling the legend we all know, I was more interested in what happens after it ends. Mulan is always remembered as this perfect hero — loyal, brave, selfless — but I kept wondering what it
actually feels like to carry that identity.
So Bound by the Wind: Echoes of the Past focuses on a more intimate moment in her life, when the war is over and she’s no longer in disguise. It becomes less about the battle, and more about her relationship with herself — and with Enkhtuyaa — and the emotional consequences of everything she’s been through.
I think it also comes from the world we’re living in now. There’s a lot of pressure on people to become symbols — to represent something bigger than themselves — and once that happens, it’s very hard to step away. Especially for women, there’s often this expectation to be strong, certain, and self-sacrificing all the time.
With this piece, I wanted to ask a simple question: if everyone needs you to be a hero. Are you still allowed to choose to just be a person?
What might audiences expect who come along to see your show?
Katherine (Meiyu) Guo: Producer:
Audiences can expect a very different take on Hua Mulan from the versions most people know. It’s not really about the “heroic legend” side of her, but more about what’s going on underneath it all. The show looks at identity, pressure, and expectation—what happens when you strip all of that away and try to figure out who you actually are, beyond duty or what people think you should be.
There’s also quite a strong physical element to it. The stage combat is very detailed and carefully crafted, but it’s not just there for spectacle; it’s used as part of the storytelling and emotional tension. Overall, it’s a more intimate, internal version of the story, where the focus is less on the myth and more on the person inside it.
How do you feel about being part of Brighton Fringe?
Katherine (Meiyu) Guo: Producer:
Being part of Brighton Fringe feels genuinely exciting for me as a producer. It’s our first time bringing a show here, and there’s something very special about presenting work in a seaside city that is so open, vibrant, and artist-led. The festival itself feels like a living ecosystem of ideas—shows happening in theatres, pop-up spaces, pubs, and unconventional venues—so there’s a real sense of discovery for both artists and audiences.
For our show, Bound by the Wind: Echoes of the Past, Brighton Fringe feels like a very natural home. Our piece is rooted in Chinese legendary folk narrative and sits well within that “weird, wild, and wonderful” atmosphere the Fringe is known for. It’s also meaningful for us to share a culturally specific story in a space that actively encourages exchange, experimentation, and new voices.
You have played the show previously at Camden and Lambeth — what’s changed since then, and do you see this as the final version?
Sammi (Xinyue) Xing: Director & Writer:
A lot has changed, actually. For Brighton Fringe, I rewrote a big part of the story to focus more closely on Mulan and her relationship with Enkhtuyaa, so the emotional core feels clearer and more grounded. I also refined the script quite a bit based on audience and reviewer feedback from the earlier runs, mainly making the dialogue more detailed and nuanced. On top of that, we
developed new stage combat sections to better support the storytelling.
It definitely feels like a more complete and considered version of the piece now. That said, I don’t think it’s ever truly final; it’s still evolving, and I’m open to continuing to develop it further.
What’s next for the show?
Katherine (Meiyu) Guo: Producer:
At the moment, we don’t have any confirmed performances lined up. But we’re actively looking for the next step, whether that’s festivals, programming opportunities, or partnerships. Ideally, we’d love to bring the show to a bigger stage and reach a wider audience and continue developing it as we go.